Vitor Pereira urged his Nottingham Forest players to “express themselves” and they delivered in style with a dominant 3-0 win away at Fenerbahce in the first leg of their Europa League knockout play-off.
It was an ideal start for the Portuguese coach in his first match in charge, as Forest secured their biggest-ever European away victory. Goals from Murillo, Igor Jesus, and captain Morgan Gibbs-White capped a commanding performance that could easily have produced an even wider margin.
Speaking after the match, Pereira said his side could have scored more but praised the result, stressing the tie is only at the halfway stage. He also highlighted the need for consistency amid a demanding schedule and called on every player to be ready to contribute.
The Forest boss added that he recognised the squad’s quality before arriving, but emphasised the importance of confidence, organisation, and enjoyment — encouraging his players to play freely, which they successfully did.
Despite sitting just three points above the relegation zone in the Premier League, Forest’s priority remains survival. However, a strong European run — their first since the 1995–96 season — could provide a significant confidence boost for the club, which famously won the European Cup twice under Brian Clough.
With the return leg set for the City Ground, Forest are now in a strong position to advance to the last 16, where they would face either Midtjylland or Real Betis.
