MEMORY BLANK
Nuno won’t look back
NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO says there is no room for sentiment today after refusing to take a walk down memory lane.
The Nottingham Forest boss enjoyed four seasons at Wolves, 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 at Molineux seven years ago.
And he won the Championship in his first season, reached an FA Cup semi-final and took Wolves into Europe where they were defeated in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Nuno was asked to re-live those moments at his pre-match briefing but the Old Gold is old news as far as he is concerned.
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.”
But he said it was nothing personal, adding: “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 an answer to give you.”
However, Forest’s boss was far more open in his feelings about Morgan Gibbs-White. He gave the playmaker his debut in the Premier League while at Molineux.
The former England Under21s international continues to catch the eye, with Nuno happy to sing his praises when asked about his improvement.
Nuno said: “Thank God he took the path 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.”