A core message echoes throughout every speech Vitor Pereira delivers to his Nottingham Forest squad: you must fight for absolutely everything. Having talent is meaningless if you refuse to work hard for your teammates.
This philosophy proved especially relevant on Sunday, when a makeshift Forest side rallied from a 1-0 deficit against Newcastle United to grab a point, securing a fifth consecutive season in the Premier League. Pereira’s mantra has fueled an eight-game unbeaten league run.
After a tumultuous season featuring four head coaches and a run to the Europa League semifinals, guaranteeing survival with two games left highlights the quality of Pereira’s work. Here, The Athletic reveals how Forest found the right formula to stay in the top flight.
Pereira prefers the carrot to the stick — he tells players where they can improve rather than criticizing their mistakes. For the second straight season, his upbeat nature has sparked a vital revival. Last year it was Wolves; this year, Forest.
According to Forest sources who spoke anonymously to protect relationships, restoring confidence and positivity was Pereira’s top priority from day one. He aimed to create a high-standard work environment with constant improvement, but also an atmosphere of “daily joy” — where players genuinely enjoy coming to training, surrounded by mutual care among teammates and coaches.
The coaching staff ensures feedback stays positive, delivered daily through individual and group meetings that spotlight progress and improvement rather than failures. Pereira is known for attention to detail. He may not repeat the phrase as often as former Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo, but his focus remains strictly on the next game — never beyond. In his first team talk, he promised to give them a clear identity, and he has.
“He only transmits positive energy and has given us nothing but confidence. That’s what makes the difference for players,” striker Igor Jesus told The Athletic. “We needed that positive energy, but also clarity. He gave us what was perhaps missing. We know we have quality and assets. He gave us a way to use them.”
Set pieces have been a key area of improvement. Pereira’s assistant coach Luis Miguel and set-piece analyst Axl Rice analyze Forest’s previous games to identify areas for improvement. They study the next opponent’s last 10 matches, examining corners, free kicks from wide and central areas, throw-ins, and goal kicks. They compile a report for Pereira and the coaching staff, feeding into the overall game plan with a short video for players. Defensive set pieces are worked on two days before matches, and attacking set pieces the day before games.