Nuno Espirito Santo is gradually but steadily turning the tide in his favor as the head coach of Nottingham Forest.

Tasked with filling the shoes of Steve Cooper, a formidable figure at the football club, Espirito Santo faced an immense challenge when taking over as Forest’s boss last December. Despite the high expectations set by Cooper’s legacy, Espirito Santo has approached the job with composure and adaptability.

Rumors circulated last season that Forest management contemplated sacking Espirito Santo on two occasions. However, with each passing match, owner Evangelos Marinakis must now be relieved to have kept faith in the Portuguese coach.

In a recent game against Brighton, Espirito Santo displayed his tactical acumen by making three crucial substitutions at halftime, a move that was met with some criticism from pundits like Stephen Warnock. This decision, which saw Neco Williams, Jota Silva, and Ryan Yates introduced, raised questions about its impact on the team’s performance during the match.

Despite observations about a potential loss of midfield cohesion, Espirito Santo’s strategic adjustments underline his quest for innovative approaches to matches. With the team’s growing depth, evidenced by impactful substitute appearances from players like Ramon Sosa and Silva, the Forest squad is looking stronger than ever since its return to the Premier League in 2022.

While some concerns were raised about the balance of the team post-substitutions, there are plenty of positives to take from Espirito Santo’s work. Looking ahead, Forest will need to find alternatives to key players like Morgan Gibbs-White, particularly after his recent dismissal.

As Espirito Santo continues to steer Nottingham Forest, fans can expect an intriguing journey under his leadership this season, marked by further tactical developments and team evolution.