Nuno admits souring of relationship between him and Forest owner amid reports of the Portuguese facing the sack.
Nuno casts doubt over Forest future with Postecoglou in frame.
Amid rumours that he would be fired, Nuno Espírito Santo has raised doubts about his future at Nottingham Forest by admitting that his relationship with the club’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, has soured and that there is “no smoke without fire.”
Nuno signed a new three-year contract in June and guaranteed Forest a spot in European competition for the first time since 1995–96, but his job appears to be in doubt after a string of concerning statements made during an unusual pre-game press conference on Friday. Ange Postecoglou is rumoured to be in the running to succeed him.
When questioned about if his relationship with Marinakis has suffered, Nuno, who is usually reserved and unwilling to reveal too much, revealed the communication breakdown.
“I always had a very good relationship with the owner, last season was very close, almost [talking on a] daily basis,” he said. “This season, not so well, but I always believe that dialogue and your opinion is always valid, because my concern is the squad and the season that we have ahead of us. But our relations have changed.
“It is not so close [now]. I’m being honest with you, I cannot say that is the same, because it’s not the same. The reason behind it, I don’t know. My job is always to try to anticipate what’s coming ahead of us, and that’s what I said with respect.
“It’s not good. I think everybody at the club should be together but it’s not the reality. The reality is that [it] is not what it used to be. It was a good, respectful relationship, but was more based on trust and sharing opinions, and now it’s not so good.”
Asked about a report in Italy that referenced rising tensions between Nuno and Marinakis and suggested the Portuguese could be sacked, the 51-year-old fuelled doubts over his position. “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, so I know how things work, but I’m here to do my job. I understand, because I’m worried. I’m the first one to be worried. I’m the first one to be concerned. There’s no smoke without fire.”