Nottingham Forest manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, has made it clear that his team will not entertain any excuses as they gear up to face Manchester United in the Premier League on Tuesday.
Despite coming off a physically demanding FA Cup quarter-final against Brighton, the Forest boss insists his squad must remain focused and ready to compete.
Forest secured their place in the FA Cup semi-finals after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
Now, they are set to take on Manchester City in the next round, but before that, their attention is firmly on their league fixture against United.
Currently sitting third in the Premier League, Forest is five points ahead of Chelsea in fourth place with just nine games remaining.
A top-five finish is likely to guarantee them a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League, a competition they haven’t played in since 1980.
“No excuses. We’re going to compete,” Nuno stated on Monday. “The players are recovering well. They are positive, and we are confident we can perform against a strong team.”
The coach acknowledged the tight schedule but believes playing in the evening will give his squad enough time to recover and prepare.
Meanwhile, star striker Chris Wood remains doubtful after missing the Brighton game due to a hip injury sustained while on international duty for New Zealand.
Nuno revealed that Wood is making progress but will only play if he is pain-free and fully fit.
With a crucial battle ahead, Forest will be looking to maintain their impressive form as they push toward securing a historic return to Europe’s elite competition.
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