Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo said “football is emotions” after club owner Evangelos Marinakis confronted him on the pitch after a 2-2 draw at home against Leicester today that threatens a terminal blow to their hopes of Champions League qualification.
Marinakis remonstrated with Nuno after Facundo Buonanotte’s 81st-minute strikeat the City Ground ensured already-relegated Leicester came away with a point that could prevent East Midlands rivals Forest from securing a top-five finish.
“Today is a tough day for everybody connected to the club,” Nuno told Sky Sports.
“[Champions League qualification] was in our hands, it’s no longer in our hands. But we are not playing well, we are not defending well and that is never good.”
Nuno, explaining why Greek businessman Marinakis had confronted him on the pitch at the end of the game, added: “It was due to the situation and the confusion over the substitution of [Taiwo Awoniyi].
“We made a [different] sub and after that we played with one man less so that frustrates everyone. It’s obvious.
“When a player is down, you get information that he is okay to continue, then we make a sub and it turns out he can’t continue. We are all frustrated with that.”
The Portuguese boss added: “Football is emotions. It’s difficult to control. Especially when we had so much expectation and the fans were incredible.”
Forest looked on course to qualify for the Champions League at the start of April.
But a run of one win in their past six Premier League games has left Forest relying on the clubs around them doing them a favour in the final two matches of the campaign.
Nevertheless, Sunday’s result means Forest are assured of a top-seven finish that will end their 29-year wait for European football.
It was only three years ago that Forest were promoted after 23 years outside the top flight.
But Buonanotte had the last word, with Marinakis making his feelings clear at the fulltime whistle.
Even if Forest win their last two league games, including a final-day meeting with Chelsea, it might not be enough for them to make the Champions League unless Aston Villa, Manchester City or Newcastle drop points along the way.
“Let’s go again; it’s not in our hands but it [the season] is not finished,” insisted Nuno.
