adminVitor Pereira has opened up on what he told James McAtee before bringing him on during Nottingham Forest’s 0–0 draw with Fulham in the Premier League.
Forest were held to a goalless stalemate on Sunday, with McAtee introduced late in the game as Pereira looked for a breakthrough. The Forest boss had already made bold changes earlier in the match, including a double substitution at half-time with the score still level.
One of those changes nearly paid off when Dan Ndoye thought he had scored the winner after running onto a through ball from Neco Williams—only for VAR to rule the goal out for a marginal offside.
However, it was Pereira’s late decision to bring on McAtee that caught attention, highlighting his belief in the former Manchester City youngster.
McAtee has struggled for game time this season, largely due to competition from Morgan Gibbs-White, who occupies a similar role and has been a key attacking figure for Forest. As a result, opportunities have been limited, and the midfielder is yet to fully convince supporters.
Despite that, Pereira remains confident in his ability. Speaking after the match, the manager explained that he urged McAtee to play with belief and express himself—just as he does in training.
He said that McAtee has the talent to produce something special out of nothing, which is why he introduced him late on in search of a decisive moment—whether through a one-on-one situation or even winning a penalty.
Pereira acknowledged the difficulty of making an impact in just a few minutes but insisted the message was simple: play with confidence and replicate his training performances. In his view, Forest tried everything possible to find a winner.
Looking ahead, McAtee could be handed a starting opportunity in Forest’s upcoming European fixture against FC Midtjylland. With a crucial league clash against Tottenham Hotspur on the horizon, squad rotation is expected.
More minutes could be vital for McAtee as he looks to regain sharpness. His lack of involvement this season has left him appearing rusty, but Pereira seems keen to give him the platform to rediscover form.
A start in the next match may provide the perfect chance for McAtee to prove his quality and stake a stronger claim for a regular place in the team.
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