Nuno Espirito Santo admits he ‘punched something’ after learning of Nottingham Forest’s point deduction for breaking Premier League spending rules… and calls on his side to ‘work harder’ after being handed the penalty

Nuno Espirito Santo says he thinks he “hit something” when he found out about Nottingham Forest’s points deduction.

Last week, the club received four points for breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability standards (PSR), a sanction against which it has lodged an appeal.

This meant Forest fell into the relegation zone, and when asked what his immediate reaction had been to the news, manager Nuno said at a press conference on Thursday: “I think I punched something that was close. from my”.

‘Of course I was disappointed. But that lasted a couple of minutes because we immediately have to recover from that moment and what we have to do is work harder.”

The Portuguese added: “We didn’t know what the final decision was going to be. Now we know.

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‘Who am I to say what is fair or unfair? I just have to deal with reality.

‘Reality shows that now we have 21 points and we are in the relegation zone. That’s clear.

‘What do we have to do? Hard work. Enough of the words, let’s move on to the facts.’

Forest are now 18th in the table with nine games remaining, one point behind 17th-placed Luton and four behind 16th-placed Everton, who could soon be hit by a match-related deduction. PSR for the second time this season.

They host Crystal Palace on Saturday having won just one of their nine league games so far in 2024, the most recent being a 1-1 draw at Luton on March 16 in which they led before the hosts scored the equalizer late.

Nuno said that “the ambition to stay in the Premier League is huge for each and every one of us at the club” and emphasized his belief that the team will overcome the drop, saying: “The way we work, the way we “The game, the unity, the commitment of the players… I see it every day and that’s why I have so much confidence.”

Forest will go into the Palace game without manager Steven Reid on the bench, having been handed a two-match touchline ban and a £5,000 fine by the Football Association, and a £75,000 fine by the club, for his behavior after the previous defeat against Liverpool. this month.

They will also be without striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who was absent from the Luton game and has a “serious injury,” Nuno reported.

“He is receiving treatment,” Nuno said of Awoniyi. “Unfortunately it is a serious injury. It’s a big blow for us because he was coming back (after a groin injury) and Taiwo’s importance is huge.

“I don’t know exactly how long (he will be out) but I am sure we will see him again (this season). He will definitely (not be available) for these two games (against Palace and then against Fulham at home next Tuesday).” .