Nottinghamshire

Tom White
BBC Sport journalist

After a fierce off-pitch battle for European football dominated the summer for both Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, on-pitch matters can finally take centre stage on Sunday as the two meet at Selhurst Park.

Palace's famous FA Cup final victory over Manchester City in May, the first major trophy in the club's history, was supposed to be followed by a debut Europa League campaign. However, they were demoted to the Conference League for breaching multi-club ownership rules, opening the door for Forest to replace them in the competition.

That means Oliver Glasner's side have the added complication of a two-leg play-off against Norwegian side Fredrikstad to contend with. They won the home leg 1-0 on Thursday, thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta's first European goal.

Glasner voiced his concerns over the club's transfer business after the game, suggesting that he might need to fill in if Liverpool target Marc Guehi departs before next week's second leg: "If Marc leaves, I will try my boots because I was a centre-back, and this could be a good option."

The Austrian coach also all but confirmed Eberechi Eze's departure from the club, adding: "Ebs will not play for us any more so it does not make sense to talk about him. It's gone."

Forest, in contrast, held on to their star man earlier this summer when Morgan Gibbs-White penned a new deal with the club despite strong interest from Tottenham Hotspur.

The England international underlined his importance to Nuno Espirito Santo's side last weekend with a standout performance in their 3-1 home victory over Brentford. He registered his 27th Premier League assist for Forest, equalling the club record set by Ian Woan in the 1990s.

The Reds may hand debuts to new signings Omari Hutchinson, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Douglas Luiz and James McAtee, although none of the forward players are likely to dislodge Chris Wood from the starting line-up.

The New Zealand striker, who found the net with his first shot of a league campaign for a third year in a row last weekend, has now scored 30 non-penalty goals since Nuno's first game in December 2023, equalling Erling Haaland over the same time period, with no other player scoring more.

However, there is a cloud over the fixture for Forest after the developments on Friday, with Nuno's future as manager uncertain after a breakdown in his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis.

At his pre-match news conference, NUno said "where there's smoke, there's fire" amid rumours about his job.

The internal tensions are believed to centre around disagreements over the Reds' transfer business, with Edu having taken control of recruitment following his appointment as the club's global head of football earlier this summer.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on the news surrounding Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and manager Nuno Espirito Santo, with the latter's future at the club now uncertain.

Here are some of your comments:

Peter: I know our owner is erratic, but this is difficult to fathom. I just hope they can get over this, as it would be a disaster at this stage of the season when everything looked so hopeful.

Dave: Whatever internal dispute is going on, it shouldn't be aired in public like this. It would be a mistake to get rid of Nuno, and it seems like terrible timing. Both men need to sit down and settle this. No-one is bigger than the club, not even Marinakis.

Stuart: When are the money men going to forget their personal ego and let the professionals do their job?

Gavin: This shows everything about who Maranakis is. The manager who got Forest back into the Premier League - fired with barely a thank you. Now, Nuno, who produced the best season this club has had in nearly 30 years, is being sidelined because apparently the owner cannot sustain a relationship with another person. It's a disgrace.

Andrew: Why do clubs that are successful press the self-destruct button?

Listen to the thoughts of BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray on BBC Sounds

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Pat Riddell
Fan writer

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When Nuno Espirito Santo told Sky Sports last week that "we have a major problem", it was assumed he was just taking the heat off the Nottingham Forest squad before Sunday's Premier League opener against Brentford.

The delay from Uefa in confirming the Reds' Europa League status was always going to impact the number and calibre of signings that would arrive at the City Ground, and the Morgan Gibbs-White saga certainly didn't help in that respect.

But his comments appeared to just be a reality check in case Forest didn't hit the ground running in the first few games of the season. Friday's news conference sheds new light on his relationship with the owner, Evangelos Marinakis - a relationship that sounds broken, possibly beyond repair.

We have been here before. Many times, to be honest, but most recently with Steve Cooper. Rumours of a sacking circulated before he signed a new contract in October 2022, just days after a 4-0 defeat by Leicester City. And there were more rumours towards the end of the 2022-23 season. The end, of course, didn't come until December that year.

The fans' reaction is going to be one of overwhelming shock and disappointment. While Cooper did the impossible and finally got us promoted, Nuno went one better and got us to the brink of the Champions League.

And while it has only been one game, there was evidence against Brentford that Forest could dominate possession and take control of games - something we rarely saw last season.

This campaign was shaping up to be particularly exciting, with the club's first European adventure in 30 years and the strongest squad we have seen at the City Ground in a lifetime.

Marinakis has the ambition, but it is Nuno who has taken the club to heights we all dreamed of.

Forest have always performed best when there has been trust, stability and togetherness at the club. This could throw everything into chaos.

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external

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Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito says his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis "had changed" but "nothing has been said" to him about his future.

The 51-year-old's future at the club has become uncertain, with sources telling BBC Sport his position is not completely safe despite last season's achievement of qualifying for Europe, and their opening weekend win over Brentford.

Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham, Nuno said: "[The relationship] has changed. What was really close - almost on a daily basis - unfortunately this season, after some things, is not the same."

The uncertainty, according to sources, has now stretched to the playing squad, who are said to be aware of the situation.

When asked about reports online that his position at the club could be at risk, the former Wolves and Tottenham boss responded: "I didn't [hear] anything except from the press. Nothing has been said to me.

"I'm just addressing [it] because we are talking and this is public and, when something is public, I think we should talk about it. How [do] I feel about that? I feel sorry. I think about the players because today they also were aware of things in the morning and I can see in their faces.

"But I react as I think I should, as I always did in my life facing things, and do the best thing that I can until the last moment. Because, one of the things that, no matter where I went and I was working is - if something happens, and the day that I leave I look back and, are the players better now than when I arrived? I think honestly, this is the case."

Questions had been asked about the situation at Forest last week when Nuno raised concerns over the transfer business of the club before the start of the season.

"I woke up at nine o'clock and I was surprised also," Nuno said when asked about fans' feelings on Friday.

"What can I say to the fans? I appreciate the respect, the feelings that they have towards me.

"I just have to thank them. Since the day that I joined, the fans have been, for us as coaching staff, so helpful. Through tough times that we faced during the first season, then we went to a nice ride on the second one - so I love [the fans]."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Nuno Espirito Santo's future as Nottingham Forest manager is uncertain after a breakdown in his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Sources have told BBC Sport that Nuno's position is not completely safe despite last season's achievement of qualifying for Europe and their opening-day win over Brentford on Sunday.

The uncertainty, according to sources, has now stretched to the playing squad, who are said to be aware of the situation.

Forest fans, send us your thoughts on the news

Alex Fletcher
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park (14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Nuno said the club is "assessing" all of the new arrivals and that this would happen at "different paces".

• On Evangelos Marinakis: "I always had a very good relationship with the owner, last season we were very close and spoke on a daily basis. This season it is not so well [between us] but I always believe that dialogue is important because my concern is the squad and the season we have ahead of us."

• Nuno added: "Our relationship has changed and we are not as close."

• The Forest boss said he "didn't know why it had changed" but said "everyone should be together" and that is "not the reality".

• Nuno added that there are "different opinions at the club" but he is "unsure if the relationship can continue".

• On transfer activity: "The squad is nearer but it is not complete yet. We need another option for the goalkeeper and in the full backs we need more as well."

• On Crystal Palace: "What happened [to Palace in Europe] it is not right to blame us but I expect a tough atmosphere on Sunday. The team has to be brave and focus on the game against a tough opponent."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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The team on BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up and Show More Football podcast have been debating the level of spending by Nottingham Forest this summer.

Midfielder Douglas Luiz is the latest recruit - a loan deal with an obligation to buy - at the City Ground.

Presenter David Jackson believes Forest haven't spent that much money this summer when factoring in net spend, as the sales of players have brought in almost £110m, while commentator Colin Fray pointed to Forest having greater income thanks to their league finish and European qualification.

Forest have generated over £100m in sales this transfer window after the departures of the likes of Anthony Elanga, Ramon Sosa, Danilo and others.

"In terms of numbers, they are no greater than last year," Jackson said. "But in terms of players who may actually play in that first team, that is a little bit different. But until last week, they had spent about £120m and brought in £110m, so not massively overspent. They may well get to that point by the end of the window, but at the moment, they haven't. At the moment, you can't say Forest have been spending wildly."

Fray replied: "No, you can't at all. I do feel there is a bit of a narrative around Forest that has spread nationally. In a way, it annoys me because it is just a narrative; it is disingenuous in the way it is perceived. I think another thing to bear in mind regarding Forest is that the prize money they got last year from the Premier League was about £150m. They are in the Europa League now as well, they have got significant money coming in so on PSR, they have got significant money that they can spend and now they are spending it."

Listen on BBC Sounds

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Nottingham Forest's latest signing Douglas Luiz says he has chosen to return to the Premier League with Forest because he could "see the ambition the club has".

The 27-year-old Brazil midfielder has joined Forest on a season-long loan with a conditional obligation to make the deal permanent next summer.

Luiz left Aston Villa a year ago to join the Serie A side having made made 204 appearances in all competitions for the Midlands club.

"I am so excited to start with the team and give my best for the shirt and the fans," said Luiz.

Chief football officer, Ross Wilson added: "It's been a very busy but successful period for us in the window in the past few weeks, and Douglas is another addition to the squad that will bring significant quality to the group.

"He's played at the highest level for a long time, understands the demands of the Premier League, and has experience playing in elite European competition."