Nottingham Forest dropped points in a huge game for Champions League football against Leicester City.
Nottingham Forest blew the chance to move back into the top five after failing to beat already-relegated Leicester City.
The visitors went ahead through Conor Coady before Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood netted to put Nuno Espirito Santo’s side in the driving seat.
But some poor defending led to Facundo Buonanotte finding the equaliser in the 81st minute, and that’s how it ended.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis then stormed onto the pitch and appeared to rip into his manager Espirito Santo.
The Forest boss has now shared what Evangelos Marinakis told him.
Espirito Santo shares what Evangelos Marinakis told him after Nottingham Forest drew vs Leicester City
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Espirito Santo lifted the lid on what Marinakis was saying to him on the pitch.
“It was due to the situation,” the Forest manager explained. “There was a confusion over the situation of [Taiwo Awoniyi].
“There was frustration to play 10 minutes with a player that had so much confidence and being positive that he’s going to score.
“We made the sub, then played with one man less. That causes frustration, it’s obvious.”
Espirito Santo continued: “Football, football is emotions. It’s difficult to control, especially when we had so much expectation today.
“The fans were incredible, we wanted to proceed the fight. It’s not in our hands now, we appreciate the effort of the players and enthusiasm of the fans.
“It’s not in our hands, but it’s not over.”
Espirito Santo can’t understand what’s happened to his team
Espirito Santo was also asked by reporters if he could explain Forest’s drop off in form, but he was none the wiser.
“I don’t know the reason,” he said. We can easily say it’s because of anxiety or nerves, but the players don’t transmit that.
“We feel it is about us, it was in our hands and it isn’t now. We will try to manage the situation but we’re not playing good.
“We’re not solid in defence, we don’t shut teams down, and in the Premier League that is not good.
“I wish I could tell you why. Our main focus is to give solutions, but we’re not able to do it. That’s frustrating for us.”
Forest now have two games remaining to turn their fortunes around, and they’ll likely need to win both if they’re to qualify for the Champions League.
Up next is a trip to West Ham United, who just beat Manchester United today, followed by a home tie against Chelsea, which could be a six-pointer.
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