How Vitor Pereira has got Nottingham Forest’s balancing act right for the run-in | OneFootball

Vitor Pereira heads into the international break after a week that brought back-to-back wins, a Europa League quarter-final and breathing space in the Premier League. Nottingham Post notes he now has valuable time on the training ground.

Players will rest before the head coach uses the hiatus to imprint ideas for the run-in. Forest reconvene in Portugal on April 9 for the first leg against Porto.

Balancing two fronts has gone well so far, and momentum matters. Before the FC Midtjylland second leg many had written Forest off, especially after a line-up that hardly inspired confidence.

Pereira managed minutes smartly in Denmark despite extra-time, with none of his key men playing more than an hour. A win at Tottenham Hotspur reinforced that approach.

It is not job done on either front. Forest beat Porto in the league phase, yet the quarter-final promises to be a real test.

Domestically, seven big games remain and the survival fight is tight. Many considered Leeds United all but safe weeks ago, yet Forest sit one point behind. Forty is the traditional safety mark, it often takes less, though this year might require more.

If they reach 39 points, or even 38, that should be enough, emphasis still on should. Sunday’s win has created a buzz, but standards must be maintained.

Pereira also has a goalkeeping call. With Stefan Ortega and Matz Sels fit, dropping Sels after successive league clean-sheets seems unlikely, while Ortega should keep Europa League duties and could be key against Porto.

Source: Nottingham Post