Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has intensified speculation about his future by admitting "there is no smoke without fire" when asked about potential dismissal. The Portuguese manager revealed his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis has deteriorated significantly since last season.
The 50-year-old acknowledged the breakdown during a press conference, stating they are no longer speaking regularly. He said: "Look, I always had a very good relationship with the owner, last season was very, very, very close, almost daily basis. This season, not so well."
Relationship breakdown details
Nuno admitted he cannot pinpoint the exact cause of the deteriorating relationship with Marinakis. He explained: "I don't know exactly, but I'm being honest with you, I cannot say that is the same, because it's not the same."
The manager described their previous dynamic as based on "trust and sharing opinions" but confirmed it is "not so good" now. His concerns stem from wanting to anticipate challenges ahead for the squad and upcoming season.
Timing after European success
The admission comes just months after Nuno signed a new three-year contract in June, extending his stay until 2028. This followed his successful first season guiding Forest to seventh place and European qualification for the first time in 30 years.
Forest opened their Premier League campaign with a 3-1 victory over Brentford last weekend. The club has made multiple summer signings including Douglas Luiz, Omari Hutchinson, James McAtee, and Arnaud Kalimuendo.
Squad concerns sparked tensions
The relationship appears to have soured following Nuno's public comments about squad strengthening needs. A week before the Brentford match, he stated he wanted reinforcements in every position except centre-back.
He said: "We're short on options, having solutions the game might need is a major concern. The problems will be 'Ifs' during the game, problems that arise, we need options and solutions."
Sources used: "Mirror" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
