Nuno Espirito Santo says Nottingham Forest must remain humble and focussed following their impressive start to the season, which has left the club third in the Premier League.
Nuno collected his fifth Premier League manager of the month award — and his first as Forest head coach— after his side drew with Chelsea and beat Crystal Palace and Leicester City during October. Striker Chris Wood won the player of the month award after netting four goals across those games.
But while Forest’s impressive start to the campaign has seen them secure a lofty position in the top four, Nuno — who previously won three manager of the month awards with Wolves and one during his short spell at Tottenham — is determined to remain grounded.
“We cannot get off track, we have to stay humble and realise that we have achieved nothing,” Nuno said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s visit of Newcastle United.
“I don’t just say this, it is really the truth. We have to keep going. But we need to keep the desire to improve, because that is what moves us forward. My ambition is just about tomorrow. I truly believe it. We cannot get distracted. Nothing can distract us. The focus has to remain as it has been.
“I am very proud of the way we have been doing things, all of us. Starting with the owner, down to everyone on the training ground, everyone has been working very hard.
“It is nice to be recognised. Along with Chris’ award, it reflects the hard work we have been doing. But we have to remain humble.”
Wood has scored eight goals this season and 23 overall since signing from Newcastle in January 2023. He is one goal away from moving level with the club’s Premier League top goalscorer, Bryan Roy, who has 24.
“Chris is about much more than the goals. It is about what he presents for us; what he means for us. It is with and without the ball. He pulls everybody together. He has a presence in the dressing room — a voice and experience,” Nuno added.
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“I think, starting from the owner, is the ambition to grow and improve the club. That makes us all aware that we have to give our best. That means on the pitch, but also us as the staff, working to create the best environment for the players, so that they can give us their best; so that they can deliver.”
Nuno repeated his warning that Forest must still work hard to improve, even amid their bright start to the season.
“It is just a continuation of the first day we started working together: The realisation that, if we are going to achieve things, we have to be demanding; we have to remain humble and recognise that we are still making a lot of mistakes, which need to be corrected,” he said.
“We have to remain on track, that is what we have to do.”
October was an eventful month for Forest, who were fined £750,000 for a post on social media in the aftermath of last season’s controversial 2-0 defeat at Everton on October 11.
They subsequently saw Nuno handed a three game ban following his sending off in the 2-2 draw at Brighton in September — meaning he was not in the touchline for the wins over Palace or Leicester. Gibbs-White was also given an additional one-match ban following his red card in that game.
On October 22 Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was given a five-match stadium ban after being accused of spitting at the feet of the match officials in the tunnel, following the 1-0 defeat to Fulham at the City Ground in September.
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(Ian Hodgson/AFP via Getty Images)
