Nuno Espirito Santo delivered another tactical masterclass in the Premier League as his Nottingham Forest side secured a crucial victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
A half-time tweak from the Portuguese manager turned the tide, helping Forest secure all three points in a thrilling encounter.
Despite heading into the break looking like the more vulnerable side, Forest came out firing in the second half, scoring a second goal just minutes after the restart.
The display was vintage Nuno—defensively disciplined, compact, and devastating on the counter-attack.
Central to Forest’s success was the creativity of Jota Silva, whose brilliance in the final third was pivotal. Ola Aina also shone with his all-action display, contributing in both defence and attack.
After the game, Morgan Gibbs-White, who scored one goal and assisted another, heaped praise on Nuno for the tactical adjustment that paved the way for victory.
Gibbs-White Reveals Nuno’s Tactical Insight
Speaking to Sky Sports, Gibbs-White acknowledged the impact of his manager’s halftime instructions.
He also reflected on Andre Onana’s error for Forest’s second goal but focused on the team’s collective execution of Nuno’s plan.
“Yeah, it was for me and Woody to stay more narrow, so we can control their two midfielders. And we pressed from the wingers, and it seemed to work,” Gibbs-White explained.
“We stuck to it, we believed in what the manager wanted, and it showed off.”
Nuno’s Tactical Brilliance
This is not the first time Nuno’s in-game adjustments have made the difference. Earlier this season, Forest pulled off a similar upset against Leicester City, with captain Ryan Yates revealing the tactical tweak that turned the game in their favour.
“Yeah it was, that was the main of the team talk,” Yates said.
“We saw they were playing a box with Ndidi and the Argentine lad off our backs, and we just couldn’t get pressure on either Winks or Pereira.
“So we just dropped one of Elanga or Hudson-Odoi at the right time to sort of match their box, and then we ended up turning the ball over a few times. We were really good on transition, so it changed the game.”
Forest’s Dream Season
With victories at both Old Trafford and Anfield this season, Forest are proving to be a formidable side under Nuno Espirito Santo. These results are not just points on the board—they are the stuff of dreams for Forest fans and a testament to their manager’s tactical acumen.
