On the first day of Nottingham Forest’s preseason, Nuno Espirito Santo gave everyone hugs.
With a happy father’s expression, the Reds head coach placed his hands on Murillo’s shoulders and peered down at the just wed defender’s wedding ring. As he welcomed the little Brazilian back to the Nigel Doughty Academy, Nuno touched his face and gave him a quick pat.
As Ola Aina lay down on the treatment table to have his blood drawn, he received a warm embrace. Nuno was all smiles as he put his arms around the full-back and said, “Nice to see you, nice to see you.”
Fans of Forest will not have seen much of this side of the Portuguese coach during his early months in command. But with his players, in the dressing room and on the training field, this is where he really shines.
Nuno frequently comes across as a little reserved in public. He generally avoids giving long replies at news conferences, which are, after all, a chance to interact with fans through the media. He is difficult to get to know since he dislikes discussing his past or himself in general. He rarely says much unless he’s discussing strategies or going on a tirade regarding calls made by referees.
He has, however, been known to laugh out loud now and then. And he’s not exactly the cautious character he may be thought to be, as seen by his habit of shaking hands with every journalist in the room before he faces his interrogators. In addition, he frequently makes it a point to greet supporters who have been in line to see their idols before home games.
But Nuno truly shines when he’s working alongside his team. For him, the most important thing is to forge a connection and foster togetherness inside the group. One of the challenges he had last semester was not having enough undisturbed time to do his task.
It was the first time Nuno has taken up a management position in the midst of a campaign when he was appointed at the City Ground last December. For him, it was a novel experience. Later on, he acknowledged that it had been difficult.
The experience was enhanced by the different problems he had to deal with. Anyone could not have easily navigated them, and Nuno felt especially hampered by not having spent a preseason with his players.
But Nuno never wavered in his focus. He never shown any symptoms of being tense or experiencing pressure.
Though it’s unlikely that the former Tottenham Hotspur manager would admit it, don’t assume for a second that he doesn’t care. A few days after his appointment, he went to the barbershop and learned about Mull of Kintyre’s history, which delighted him much. He is also well aware of the intensity of feeling surrounding the future of the City Ground.
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