COLD GOLD FOR NUNO
Forest boss won’t get mushy about a Wolves reunion... I have love but it’s over
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City Ground: Kick-off 3pm
BY NEIL MOXLEY
NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO says there is no room for sentiment today after refusing to take a walk down memory lane.
Nottingham Forest’s boss enjoyed four seasons at Molineux, lifting the club to heights not enjoyed for more than three decades.
He arrived with no experience of English football, as a player or manager, before taking the reins in the Black Country seven years ago.
He won the Championship in his first season, reached an FA Cup semi-final and took them into Europe where they were defeated in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
He was asked to re-live those moments at his prematch briefing but the Old Gold is old news for him. Asked about his achievements, he said: “It was a long time ago now. It’s over. I have nice love, respect for the fans and everybody but now my life is Forest. I’m so sorry. Let’s talk about this in another moment. My head is not there.
“Honestly, I’m here with you guys. When I’m finished here, I will go straight to the training ground.
“That’s how vital and important my job is.” He added: “It’s not just Wolves. Last week on Tottenham. In future, if we play a European competition and we play in Portugal, I will do exactly the same.
This is how I approach things. Day by day. My present is my present. And that’s Forest. There’s nothing else that matters to me. I respect why you ask but I cannot even process the question or any answer to give
you.”
Forest’s boss was far more open about Morgan Gibbs-white.
He gave the playmaker his debut in the Premier League while at Molineux.
The former England Under-21 international continues to catch the eye, with Nuno happy to sing his praises.
Asked about his improvement, Nuno said: “Thank god he took the path that we all saw he could take to become a big, big player – a very talented player – albeit with things to improve.
“He needs to take it day by day. Progress, improve, take advantage of every moment in which you can make a small detail better.
“This is the Morgan we want.
“We need him now. We don’t need to think about the Morgan in four or five years’ time.”