Nuno Espirito Santo criticises his Nottingham Forest defence after the 2-0 loss to Brentford in the Premier League on Thursday night.
He spoke about the importance of Nottingham Forest’s final five games, but his team failed to respond in a crucial match.
After a FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester City, Forest struggled again, managing only one shot on target in the first half.
Despite a half-time substitution sparking a brief improvement, Brentford dominated with key players like Chris Wood underperformed, and a late chance from Anthony Elanga was saved.
The defeat, Forest’s third in four league games, dents their Champions League hopes, leaving them reliant on other teams dropping points with four games remaining.
š£ļø “We should have done much better”
Nuno EspĆrito Santo criticised his Forest defence following their 2-0 loss to Brentford š² pic.twitter.com/Xz5IBrnDLb
ā Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 2, 2025
Nottingham Forest boss NunoĀ EspiritoĀ Santo, speaking to BBC MOTD:Ā “Not a good performance.
“Something that we have to analyse.
“Normally solid over the top of our defence, but credit to Brentford. They defended well and didn’t give us much – disappointing night.”
On Brentford’s long balls:Ā “Something that we knew that Brentford does, but we should have done better.”
On European hopes:Ā “The run-in, we have to find better solutions, better game, better defending and better creating opportunities.”
Ā Nuno Espirito Santo, speaking to Sky Sports:Ā “It’s a bad night and a bad game. I’m not really worried about the table, more how to correct the mistakes.
“Credit to Brentford but the situations we should solve normally with better defending. We are disappointed but it’s about reacting and going for the next one.
“I don’t say it was because of the semi-final. It was high demanding on a fitness aspect but we should have defended better.
“We didn’t create too much, Brentford defended well. We have to compete much better to achieve what we want. The way we did it in this game is not normal for where we are.
“There are still four games to go, a lot of football to be played. We have to focus on ourselves and play better football.
“He [Callum Hudson-Odoi] was not able to continue. He felt something in the first half.”
“It’s a bad night, it’s a bad game” š³
Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo says they are disappointed after their defeat to Brentford š«¤ pic.twitter.com/Ex3hBWUxFm
ā Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 1, 2025
Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga, speaking to BBC Match of the Day:Ā “We’ve been really solid on defence this year. We lost in the semi-final the other day and we’ve lost today. We need to regroup for Monday.
“We forgot about the game at Wembley and wanted to start strong today. The goals we conceded today weren’t like us.
“We have to go game-by-game and we need to start winning and put ourselves in the best position possible and that stays with Palace.”
Nottingham Forest captain Ryan Yates, speaking to Sky Sports:Ā “Very disappointing. We all know it’s the business end of the season. Fine margins have let us down but we’re positive with four games to go.
“Throughout he midfield and forwards, we could have created chances to score but we didn’t. We defend and attack as a team. We have to move on to Palace.
On FA Cup semi-final hangover:Ā “I was suspended for that and I didn’t feel like it for one bit.
“You’ve got to look at each game and put all your focus into it. We’re isolating each game as it comes and try to get fired up and put this behind us.
“We’re just thinking about Palace. We haven’t got long and that’s all we’re focused on. We’ve reacted well to set backs this season. That will show the character of the group.”
“It’s massive. It’s something unbelievable that we can build on” šŖ
Nathan Collins and Yoane Wissa react after Brentford’s 2-0 victory against Nottingham Forest šļø pic.twitter.com/VlRx3ikVWA
ā Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 1, 2025
“The last 12 games we’ve been extremely consistent, extremely well performing” š
Brentford boss Thomas Frank is dreaming of European football š pic.twitter.com/r2xWGAS6jT
ā Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 1, 2025
Brentford boss Thomas Frank, speaking to BBC Match of the Day:Ā “It was a good away performance. Very solid. I think it is a big strength that we go to a difficult place against a team who have been fantastic all season. It was only seven out of 10 in my opinion. We were very strong defensively and gave little away. We should have kept the ball better in the second half. Credit to the boys.
“We had more possession and we went 1-0 up, then 2-0. Naturally they pressed us more. We knew the counters against, we had to be very good and close down those situations. We needed to be good enough to play behind them.
“I think everything is possible. There are four games left. We’ll try out best to win them.”
Brentford boss Thomas Frank, speaking to Sky Sports:Ā “It was very good to come here and win against a very good team. Defensively, very strong we gave very little away. Very robust, very clever in many phases of the game.
“We lacked a bit of coolness in spells, but we have to come here and got a well deserved win and gave very little away – that’s very good.
“I have been speaking to Nathan [Collins] about how centre-backs who can play a long pass in-behind is such a bigger threat than shorter passes.”
On Kevin Schade:Ā “He’s done very well. We all need to understand with all players, but especially younger players there very few get in and perform.
“He was more consistent last year, probably the team and everything around him didn’t have as good a season.
“He’s added to his level and now he’s playing at a consistent level.”
Ā Frank, speaking to Sky SportsĀ about Brentford aiming for European football:Ā “There is a few things to happen – the teams ahead of us need to get less points and we need Man City to win the FA Cup.
“There’s a few things that we cannot control ourselves.
“Last 12 games we have been extremely consistent and well performing. There’s another big game on Sunday which we will do our best to win.”
On whether Brentford are ready for Europe:Ā “Ask me in three games time – then I’ll answer the question.
“We’re growing as a club and the team is growing. We would be more competitive if we didn’t have as many injuries last year.
“We consistently perform at a good level [this season]. This season we had one bad game whereas the other season we have had three or four.”
Brentford’s Nathan Collins, speaking to Sky Sports:Ā āWe want an exceptional season. We are not happy sitting around and floating about. We want to do something.
“We’re lucky with the quality that we have upfront. They can take it to feet, go in-behind and teams can’t deal with these guys ā we are so lucky to have them.”
On the clean sheet: “Massive. Something that we can build on. To come here and keep a clean sheet against this team – they have been unbelievable this season.
“We need to keep doing it and we need to keep going.”
On European hopes:Ā “Fans today come up on a Thursday – unbelievable. They were class and they got the reward from us.
“Four cup finals to go and we start on Sunday – it is a big match.”
Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, speaking to Sky Sports:Ā “Game after game we showed that we can reach that [level]. It has been a top performance today against a very good team.”
Brentford goalscorer Kevin Schade, speaking to Sky Sports:Ā “We know it would be very difficult away. they’re doing very well at the moment, the fans are very loud. Ugly win I would say.
“I work hard for it. good ball from Nathan. A bit lucky.
“I think it was much more difficult in the second half when they played man to man against us.
“We dream big, it is our goal for the end of the season. Focus.
“We try to give everything every game. It is what it is.”
Twitter users reacted as Nuno Espirito Santo criticises his Nottingham Forest defence after 2-0 loss to Brentford…
@JGNFFC_: its not over but weāre really making it hard for ourselves, back to begging for a few favours from other teams again
@BenHarries: Wheels off. Iāve never seen so many Forest crosses with no attempt on goal. There are still chances and games to go, we can still make the Champions League or the Europa. Williams and Aina noticeably fresher legs, MGW is trying too hard.
@NFFCWill22: Looked awful in every game since the Man Utd game, something has to change fast otherwise we have to settle for Europa league
@dcfcstephen: At least the small rebel city sold more than Man City at Wembley though, that’s what matters.
@lennon909uk: Obviously not great but only 7 points off 2nd place. Find me 1 person that would not have taken that start of season. 7 points from last 4 still very likely.
@nffcalways1: Looked tired, weāve got a great starting 11 but need to add to the bench if we want to compete in multiple competitions. Brentford had a long rest and it showed, we move on, regardless of what happens this has been a special season and weāll build from it #nffc
@NFFCMY: They simply werenāt at the races. For someone whoās been consistent all season, Milenkovic seemed to decide heād let two in tonight. Between him, Murillo and Aina, this scoreline was down to them. Look at the replays. #NFFC
@1andyhar: Mistake not adding a bit of quality in January coming how to roost!
@henjohansen1: Letās be realistic, we wouldnāt have be able to beat Leicester tonight, it was brutal! Sadly, we look done and dusted, no more magic in the legs or spirit, and the run in looks to be an awful experience for us all. We will still be proud, but we are back to being old Forest ā¹ļø
@JamesPsoccer: Poor today – no complaints with result. Champs League would be an amazing achievement but realistically the majority of the team is nowhere near that level. Would have to invest heavily and not sure we are allowed with FFP. Europa League more realistic for where we are now.
@AndyGarley : Lots of very heavy legs on the pitch tonight!! We have played a core team all season, swapping out the odd player here and there and it’s starting to show. The lads have given everything they have all season .this needs to be a warning for next year we need to add depth.
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