Nottingham Forest defensive anchor Murillo has issued a passionate rallying cry to the City Ground faithful following Sunday’s agonizing 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, insisting that the squad is on the absolute verge of unlocking Oliver Glasner’s revolutionary tactical vision.
Despite producing an imperious individual display at center-back against Mikel Arteta’s title contenders, the 24-year-old Brazilian powerhouse was left frustrated after a late, deflected strike from Noni Madueke handed the Gunners all three points.
The result left Forest sitting in the Premier League relegation zone with just five points from seven matches, triggering intense speculation surrounding Glasner’s job security under notoriously ambitious owner Evangelos Marinakis.
However, put up for post-match media duties with Sky Sports, Murillo forcefully dismissed any lingering panic, pleading for fans to stay united as the squad master’s Glasner’s demanding system.
”We Changed Everything”: Murillo Asks for Patience as System Takes Shape
Reflecting on the painful 1-0 loss, Murillo argued that Forest deserved far more from the contest after keeping the European heavyweights at bay for eighty minutes.
The heavily scouted defender—who continues to attract interest from Europe’s top clubs—explained that adapting to a completely new tactical identity following a disrupted pre-season takes time, but total victory is near:
“We knew it would be a tough game, it always is against Arsenal. They have a good team. But we feel we can change the result, maybe a draw, maybe a win. Now, we have to put it in the past and focus on the next match.
“We have a good manager, and I think we are still getting his ideas. We changed everything in our system this season. It’s difficult, but after three or four months we keep improving, and I think we are close to reaching our best.”
31 Games to Save the Season: Why Panicking Is a Mistake
While critics point to Forest’s troubling record of just one victory in all competitions this term, Murillo’s locker-room endorsement provides essential backing for Glasner ahead of Friday night’s critical trip to Portman Road to face Ipswich Town.
With 31 Premier League fixtures still remaining, the Brazilian center-back believes Forest have more than enough quality to turn their season around rapidly once their attacking luck returns:
- Defensive Resilience: Forest limited Arsenal to a single deflected shot on target throughout the entire 90 minutes.
- Milenković Factor: The return of Serbian international Nikola Milenković from a hamstring injury gives Glasner his primary center-back pairing alongside Murillo.
- Creating Chances: Forest matched Arsenal’s second-half intensity, failing only to capitalize on key transitions without injured playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White.
High-Stakes Friday Night Clashes Ahead
Glasner is well aware that Marinakis’ track record with former managers like Nuno Espírito Santo and Ange Postecoglou means patience is a rare commodity at the City Ground.
However, with Murillo and the playing squad firmly aligned behind their Austrian head coach, Friday night’s away battle against Gary O’Neil’s Ipswich represents the perfect opportunity for Forest to convert “positive performances” into three non-negotiable points.
