17 hours ago
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Nuno Espírito Santo attempted to defend Evangelos Marinakis after the Nottingham Forest owner furiously confronted his manager on the pitch following the 2-2 draw with Leicester.
Gary Neville, the former England defender and Sky TV pundit, criticised Marinakis for his “scandalous” behaviour and suggested Nuno should be negotiating his departure from the club. The Forest manager confirmed the row concerned Taiwo Awoniyi’s inability to finish the game with full mobility after the substitute, who came on in the 83rd minute, had run into a post trying to score five minutes later.
Nuno was seen to be consulting his medical staff but they did not replace the striker. Forest let slip the chance to claim fifth place in the Premier League and stay in control of their chances to qualify for the Champions League, although they did guarantee they will play in Europe next season as they cannot finish below seventh.
Nuno said: “It was disappointing for everybody. Unfortunately, we had to play the last 10 minutes with one man less. Taiwo gave it a go but it was too painful for him to really push and help the team. There was a misunderstanding between the coaching staff and the medical department. We had the heads up to make a sub, then Taiwo tried but he could not [run fully].
“[We feel] disappointment and frustration of course. But it is because of the owner and his passion that we are growing as a club. He pushes us. He wants us to be better. It is his passion and desire to be a big club – 30,000 people felt the same today. For sure, many of them would go on the pitch and shake us down. Us as a club, we owe a lot to the Marinakis family.”
Marinakis later backed up Nuno’s explanation in a statement. “Today is a day for celebration, because after 30 years Nottingham Forest is now guaranteed to be competing on the European stage once again – a promise I made to our supporters when we achieved promotion!” it read, before adding: “Everybody – coaching staff, players, supporters and including myself – we were frustrated around the injury of Taiwo and the medical staff’s misjudgment on Taiwo’s ability to continue the game. This is natural, this is a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club. Let’s all be grateful, passionate and keep on dreaming!”
Earlier Neville said: “If I was Nuno, I’d be going and having a very strong word with him, because that is an absolute scandal. He’s just qualified them for a European competition, and from where that club’s been, and to be remonstrated with on that pitch in front of the club’s fans is an absolute joke.”
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Marinakis was given a five-game stadium ban this season after spitting on the floor as match officials walked past him in the tunnel after the home defeat by Fulham in September. Forest’s lawyers confirmed on Sunday that night there was no further trigger in the sanction for future behaviour such as this.
The Forest owner, also in charge of Olympiakos, placed his shares in a blind trust last month as Uefa rules stipulate individuals cannot have a controlling interest in two clubs competing in the same competition. Olympiakos have already qualified for the Champions League.
