Vitor Pereira: Nottingham Forest boss believes he has the trust of owner Evangelos Marinakis and can avoid relegation | Soccer News

New Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira says his pre-existing relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis will help the pair steer the club to Premier League safety.

The Portuguese became Forest’s fourth manager of the season after Sean Dyche followed Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou out the door as Marinakis stepped up in a bid to avoid Premier League relegation.

Pereira has worked with the Greek owner before – he guided Olympiakos to a league and cup double in 2015 – and believes he is well suited to handle the pressure that comes with the role.

“He is ambitious. He wants to win, he is emotional and I know him very well,” the former Wolves boss said at his first press conference.

“The conversations were about our time in Olympiakos. I remember the energy and the fire we created.

“Greece is a bit like Turkey. There is fire inside; they like to see the energy and he asked me to be myself.

“I liked the way we got the league and the cup when we worked together.

“It was in the middle of the season and we created a good relationship. He trusts my work, I trust his personality, because in football we also need passion.

“I have fire and I have passion. Soccer is my passion, something that sleeps and wakes up with me.

“I came with the intention to give everything of myself, to give my body and soul to this club to help the club and together we can do it.

“It is the pressure that means football is beautiful. We are better under pressure. I need the pressure to be at my best level.

“Pressure is important in football.”

Pereira: I believe in our quality, we can stay up

Forest currently sit 17th in the Premier League, three points above the bottom three, but Pereira is confident he can be the man to lead them to safety, citing the quality and ambition of the players as a key reason why.

He added: “I prefer to talk about the present and the future. But you know it’s a difficult season for the players because it’s different methodologies, different managers.

“It is not easy, but I believe the reason why I accept this position is that I believe in the quality of the players, because I believe in the potential of this club, the ambition of the president.

“Of course I believe that it is possible (to stay up). I believe that we can get points, results and quality in the games.”

“First the points, then the pints!”

Pereira’s first game in charge comes in the Europa League knockout play-off on Thursday, before he faces Liverpool at the City Ground three days later, live on air sports.

During his time at Wolves, the Portuguese often celebrated victories among the supporters and was often pictured drinking with fans in the wake of three points.

“First the points, then the pints,” he said after Wolves beat Bournemouth in February 2025, before eventually guiding them to safety by a healthy 17-point margin.

It was a saying that quickly filtered down to the stands, with fans often serenading their former boss with songs of ‘We’ll see you in’ Spoons (Wetherspoons)’ during matches.

When asked if the same tradition of joining supporters to celebrate would translate to the East Midlands as in the west, Pereira said: “It’s something about my personality.

“I’m not an actor, I’m a simple guy, an honest guy, confident and when I feel I deserve the pints – of course!”

Pereira: No room for error in the Premier League

Despite discussing possible celebrations, Pereira is fully aware of the task ahead and highlighted the narrow margin for error.

“I learned this is a league in which we cannot make mistakes,” he said.

“The mistakes will punish us. The league will punish the teams and the clubs that make mistakes.

“The high level of this league has conditions to compete and in a small detail you can lose. In a second you can lose and in a second you can win.”

Nottingham Forest’s upcoming matches

• Fenerbahce (A) – Europa League Knockout Playoff First Leg – Thursday 19 February; kick off 17:45
• Liverpool (H) – Premier League – Sunday 22 February, live air sports; kick off 14:00
• Fenerbahce (H) – Europa League Knockout Playoff Second Leg – Thursday 26 February; kick off 20:00
• Brighton (A) – Premier League – Sunday March 1, live Sky Sports; kick off 14:00
• Man City (A) – Premier League – Wednesday March 4; kick off 19:30
• Fulham (H) – Premier League – Saturday 14 March; kick off 15:00