Vitor Pereira will take charge of a Nottingham Forest side for the first time on Thursday
Vitor Pereira manager of Nottingham Forest enjoys his first day at The Nigel Doughty Academy (Image: Nottingham Forest FC via Getty Images)
Vitor Pereira insists his first Nottingham Forest team will be going to Fenerbahce to win – and not to escape with a draw.
The new Reds head coach took charge of his first training session on Monday and has just two days to prepare his side for the daunting prospect of facing his former club in a Europa League play-off.
In a nomadic managerial career the 57-year-old has twice managed the Istanbul-outfit and must now try to steer Forest past a team currently standing second in the Turkish Super Lig.
However, in his first interview with Forest TV, Pereira was bullish about how to approach the task with Liverpool to face three days later.
“I have been there two times in my career, I have a very good relationship with the supporters and for me it’s an honour to start in Kadikoy Stadium because I have very good feelings and an image in my mind,” he said.
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“It is something that is special but now it is time organise the team, time to study they are doing a good season, they are a strong team, we cannot think they are not very good players.
“But I believe in my squad, my players and my boys and I believe with our supporters we can do it.
“I believe that a manager can inspire a team and a team can inspire the manager. I am the kind of person that believes we can play against every team looking for the win.
“I don’t believe if we go there thinking about drawing and deciding the game at home, this is not a good way to face Fenerbahce away because I know the environment and the fans.
“We need to go there without fear because football is about courage. This is what I appreciate in my players, the courage to be themselves.
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“The Turkish people love football and Fenerbahce is a special club in Turkey but I believe that our supporters will like the environment.
“Good energy is what the players need, what I need. We will play in a full stadium for sure and we will listen to our supporters, we are focused on our supporters. It is a very good challenge.”
Pereira also had a message to the Forest fans, with 1,200 making the trip to Istanbul: “Together we can do it. I believe if we create good energy between the supporters and the team we are close to succeeding.
“It’s like we are family and in life, even for a family, we have moments to suffer together but together we can create, through spirit to win and to go for the targets we are looking for.”