Nottingham Forest’s new manager Vitor Pereira has been given a clear warning by the club as he makes his feelings clear ahead of the game against Fenerbahçe.
Pereira faces his first major test as Nottingham Forest manager on Thursday night when Fenerbahce travel to the City Ground for a Europa League knockout clash that could set the tone for his entire survival mission.
The former Wolves manager will be in charge for the opening game, taking over from Sean Dyche, who was sacked just a week ago.
Thursday’s European game will provide Pereira with a precious little bit of preparation time ahead of Sunday’s absolutely massive Premier League clash at home to Liverpool.
Forest are in the final relegation zone, three points behind West Ham, and every game between now and May could decide the season.
The ‘Big Stage’ manager was keen to move to Nottingham Forest ahead of Pereira.
He was eyeing the role.
Pereira knows Thursday is their chance to build momentum before facing Arne Slott’s Liverpool, who will be looking for points.
The 57-year-old arrives with high expectations following his impressive rescue performance at Wolves last season.
Despite arriving mid-way through the campaign, Pereira kept Molineux’s side in the ascendancy and battled against team drops. Forest bosses will be hoping he can display similar heroics at the City Ground in his final months.
Nottingham Forest’s Pereira reveals his feelings after issuing warning ahead of Fenerbahce
However, according to Football Insider, Pereira could be sacked this summer even under any mitigating circumstances if Forest are relegated.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis operates with ruthless efficiency and has already had four permanent managers this season alone, following the departures of Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou and Diche.
Pereira understands how Marinakis operates from their previous working relationship at Olympiakos, where they won a domestic double in 2015.
But that familiarity will not save him even if Forest drop to the Championship in May.
The club hierarchy has not presented Pereira with a long-term vision or plan. His mission couldn’t be clearer. Either he should let Forest continue, or he should be sacked immediately once his relegation is confirmed.
There was no talk of building for next season or carrying out ongoing projects, with Pereira given a clear warning by Tricky Trees ahead of his dugout debut.
Pereira’s opening game schedule will be tough when compared directly to West Ham’s upcoming schedule.
Both clubs will face Liverpool, Man City and Fulham in their next five league games, in a direct points battle to decide who survives.
West Ham take the lead when they host Bournemouth, before Forest tackle Liverpool the following afternoon. The next 24 hours will be absolutely crucial in shaping the relegation picture for the crucial battle in March.
Forest need to pick up more points than the Hammers in these five games. Otherwise, Pereira could easily find the team sitting in the bottom three before he has barely settled into his new surroundings.
The situation gets even worse when you consider what relegation would mean for Forest’s squad.
If Aston Villa and other England national teams are relegated, it seems increasingly inevitable that Morgan Gibbs-White will leave the club.
Murillo and Elliott Anderson are also attracting serious interest from elite clubs waiting to pounce on the Premier League.
Make no mistake, if Forest cannot overcome this decline, a mass exodus is looming.
Marinakis will face a rebuild of the entire squad while replacing Pereira with yet another manager ahead of the Championship campaign.
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Tricky Trees is hoping to ward off suitors this summer.
