“Pleasure to be here, back to the fight,” said Vitor Pereira with a smile.
Pereira was speaking to the media for the first time since signing an 18-month deal to become Nottingham Forest’s fourth manager of the season.
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It is just 161 days since Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked, having fallen out with owner Evangelos Marinakis and global sporting director Edu.
Ange Postecoglou and Sean Dyche have since come and gone in a tempestuous season of struggle.
Now Forest, who are just one place above the relegation zone, have turned to former Wolves boss Pereira.
The 57-year-old breezed into the City Ground on Tuesday well aware of the challenge – to keep the club up, and keep Marinakis happy.
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Keeping Marinakis’ faith, and winning players’ trust
Pereira is back in management just over three months after being sacked by Wolves, who at that point had taken just two points after 10 games.
He regrets not stepping down before the start of the season – first frustrated by what he perceived as the club moving too slowly to secure signings, then unhappy with the players they did deliver.
He still signed off on all the deals – pushing, in particular, for winger Jhon Arias, who was sold to Palmeiras earlier this month – but felt he never got his first choices.
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There are parellels with Nuno’s exit from Forest – both were disillusioned with transfer business – but there should be no surprises or secrets between Pereira and Marinakis.
Pereira worked under the Forest owner at Olympiakos in 2015. It was only a six-month relationship, but still delivered a domestic double.
He left Olympiakos for Fenerbahce, who Forest face visit in the Europa League on Thursday, in the summer of 2015 – but reflects on that being a mistake as he jumped around clubs in a desire to make it to the Premier League.
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One of his key tasks at Forest is to manage upwards, and understand the owner.
“He is ambitious. He wants to win. Emotional… I know him very well,” he said.
“I remember the energy and the fire we created. In Greece, there is a fire inside – they like to see the energy. He asked me to be myself. He liked the way when we worked together we won the league and cup.
“It was in the middle of the season and we created a good relationship. He trusts my work, I trust his personality. I think we need passion too.”
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Marinakis had hoped Dyche would bring stability, but he failed to win over Forest’s expensively assembled squad.
Despite averaging nearly 1.5 points per game during his tenure, players were concerned about his training methods and focus on physicality and running.
Players’ opinions were canvassed after the defeat by Leeds earlier this month, and a number were summoned to see Marinakis following the 0-0 draw against Wolves on Wednesday.
Pereira has already spoken to his squad about the need for togetherness.
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“If you buy the idea, it’s a good step,” he said. “If you don’t buy the idea of the manager, it’s a big problem – and you must also buy the personality.
“If you buy the idea and the person, you have an open mind to receive information and to work hard together, it’s possible to achieve what we want.
“Football is much more than tactical things. It’s about connecting with people specially doing that – to fight for a target together with commitment.
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“It’s about connecting the supporters, with the team, club and city, to create the energy for everybody to believe in themselves, to create a good environment to work, and tactical ideas of course.
“I cannot change a lot because in a short time it’s a mistake [to try] but with clear ideas and good communication we can do it.”
Twelve games left to beat the drop
Pereira will be on familiar ground for Thursday’s Europa League play-off, having managed the Turkish side for 86 games over two spells.
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Forest need an instant impact, and despite leaving Wolves in November after not winning a Premier League game since April, he proved there he can make a difference at a struggling club.
At Molineux, he won 12 of his 25 matches – drawing four and losing nine – after taking over when they were five points from safety in December 2024.
Wolves were 13 points behind Manchester United and 14 points adrift of Tottenham at that stage but finished level with the Red Devils and four points above Spurs – 17 clear of danger.
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Champions Liverpool visit the City Ground on Sunday – and Forest’s three-point lead over West Ham in the final relegation spot could have disappeared by then as the Hammers face Bournemouth on Saturday.
Relegation was not in the thinking after a seventh-placed finish last season – and Pereira needs to start well.
He said: “I cannot change a lot in this moment of the season. It’s important the players feel they can help the team with their qualities. It’s important they express themselves.
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“Passion is something which sleeps me with, wakes up with me. I came with intention to give everything for myself, my body and my soul to help the club. Together we can do it.”
If Forest survive, there will be celebrations – and while at Wolves Pereira coined the phrase ‘first the points, then the pints’, having drunk with fans after wins.
He added: “This is something about my personality. I’m not an actor. I’m a simple guy, an honest guy… confident, and when I feel I deserve the pints, of course.”