Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira has made it clear that Premier League survival remains his top priority, despite his side securing a valuable result in Europe.
Forest earned a 1-1 draw against Porto in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final, keeping their hopes of reaching a first European semi-final since 1984 firmly alive. Pereira made nine changes to his starting lineup for the clash, signalling his intent to balance continental ambition with domestic urgency.
The match saw Forest fall behind early to a strike from William Gomes, but they found a fortunate equaliser through an own goal by Martim Fernandes, whose misplaced back-pass ended up in the net. Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega also played a crucial role, producing several key saves to keep the tie level ahead of the return leg at the City Ground.
Despite the positive result, Pereira was quick to shift focus back to the Premier League, where Forest are still battling to secure safety. With crucial fixtures looming, including a key clash against Aston Villa, the Portuguese coach stressed the importance of picking up points domestically.
He admitted that if survival was already secured, the focus might be different, but given the current situation, every league game carries massive importance. Pereira also highlighted the physical demands of the schedule, noting the limited recovery time between matches.
Forest are currently locked in a tense relegation battle alongside teams such as West Ham, Leeds United, and Tottenham, making every remaining fixture critical.
While the club still harbours ambitions of progressing further in the Europa League—and potentially lifting a major trophy—Pereira emphasized the need for responsibility and realism. According to him, securing Premier League status is essential before fully committing to their European push.
Looking ahead, the outcome of their upcoming match against Aston Villa could influence how Forest approach the second leg against Porto. A positive result in the league would give Pereira more flexibility, while anything less could force him to continue prioritising survival.
For now, Nottingham Forest find themselves walking a fine line between two competitions—chasing European glory while fighting to remain among England’s elite.
