Admin
Vitor Pereira’s debut as Nottingham Forest manager couldn’t have been scripted better. Faced with the daunting atmosphere of the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium—a ground he knows well from two previous stints—Pereira led Forest to a commanding 3-0 victory over Fenerbahçe in the Europa League play-off first leg.
While the entire team looked revitalized, fans and pundits alike believe Pereira has found his “special” solution in the returning Murillo. The Brazilian center-back, who had missed the previous two matches under former boss Sean Dyche, was immediately restored to the lineup by Pereira. He rewarded that faith in the 21st minute with a spectacular solo goal, dribbling from the halfway line, brushing off defenders like N’Golo Kanté, and lashing a 20-yard strike into the bottom corner.
A Tactical Transformation
Beyond his goal, Murillo’s composure and ball-carrying ability provided the tactical “tool” Pereira had promised in his pre-match press conference. By utilizing Murillo as a deep-lying playmaker from defense, Forest bypassed Fenerbahçe’s press with ease—a stark contrast to the rigid, defensive struggles seen earlier this season.
With goals from Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White rounding out the rout, Pereira has not only put one foot in the Round of 16 but has seemingly unlocked the elite potential of his most valuable asset. If this “special” connection between manager and defender continues, Forest’s relegation fears may soon be a thing of the past.
Admin
Kudus Samuel