Former Nottingham Forest manager Vítor Pereira has broken his silence on his City Ground tenure, sending a clear message to owner Evangelos Marinakis about his tactical legacy as pressure continues to mount on current boss Oliver Glasner.
With Forest languishing near the bottom of the Premier League table with just a single victory from their opening six matches, a growing section of the City Ground faithful has found themselves openly pining for Pereira’s return.
The Portuguese tactician took charge in February following Sean Dyche’s abrupt departure, orchestrating a historic run to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals while securing Premier League survival with two games to spare.
Despite those achievements, Marinakis opted to part ways with Pereira in the summer to appoint Glasner—a decision now coming under intense scrutiny across East Midlands.
Pereira Lays Down Premier League Marker: “That’s What I Did”
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, Pereira reflected on his successful spells at both Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers, boldly claiming that his ability to unite divided dressing rooms and energize fanbases sets him apart from other elite managers.
“The Premier League is my focus, and I’m preparing as well as I can to come back, because that’s where I want to be,” Pereira declared on talkSPORT. “It’s where I feel challenged and motivated, and I’m waiting for the opportunity to return.”
“So, I’ve been following the Premier League closely, keeping an eye on the teams and trying to understand the current trends in how they play. And bringing the fans together, getting them excited with good football, the kind where you can really feel the players are playing with great spirit. That’s what I’ve done in my two experiences, at Wolves and at Forest. Both times we came into those clubs, we got results and hit our objectives while playing good football.”
Glasner on the Brink as Marinakis’ Patience Runs Out
Pereira’s comments come at a catastrophic moment for Oliver Glasner. Following a humiliating 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, reports surfaced that Marinakis was “personally embarrassed” by the result and allegedly stormed out of the boardroom.
With insider reports naming Glasner as one of the primary candidates to become the Premier League’s first managerial sacking of the 2026/27 season, Pereira’s willingness to step back into English football serves as an immediate shadow over the current coaching staff.
While football analysts point out that Glasner historically starts slowly before his tactical systems click, Marinakis’ impending multi-million-pound investment in the City Ground stadium redevelopment means the Forest hierarchy cannot afford an extended slump.
Facing a brutal pre-international schedule that includes a daunting home fixture against reigning champions Arsenal, Glasner must deliver immediate victories—or Marinakis may be forced to admit that parting ways with Vítor Pereira was a costly mistake.
