Nottingham Forest 1-2 Fenerbache: What Pereira and Hudson-Odoi said
- Published
Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira, speaking to TNT Sports: "When you change half of the team it is not easy to keep the level. It was my responsibility because we have an important game in three days. I decided to recover some players to have energy in the next game, but it is not easy when you change a lot.
"We conceded a goal and we lost the confidence to play. It was difficult for me to do four subs at the same time but I spoke to the players and said it was my decision and we needed to do it because the game came into a dangerous situation for us.
"They scored the second but then we started to play to our level. We scored. This is important to keep in our minds, Europa League is not easy. I know Fenerbahce very well and they came here to fight for the result.
"For me I know if you change five players you don't know what will happen. If we scored first maybe we get the confidence and we play with five new players on the pitch.
"With stress and pressure it was difficult for them to be themselves because they are not playing every match. In the end we are in the competition. In the second half we controlled the game and result, let's move forward."
Forest's goalscorer Callum Hudson-Odoi, speaking to TNT Sports: "I think we made it difficult for ourselves. Sometimes you know when you are in the lead and sometimes you are comfortable. We showed a great reaction after the second goal. The most important thing is that we are through."
Much needed half-time team talk?: "100%. It was needed to up the levels a bit more and focus on what we know more which is us playing football and the high press. We reacted very well.
"When the ball came I just looked at it and felt confident I could get a shot off. Happy with that.
"In situations like that when they get a couple of goals you have to calm the game down. We had to focus on what we know as best, trying to get the ball and trying to create chances. We have to keep working hard on the little things.
"Every game from now until the end of the season is a final for us. We have to be ready for every game and keep working hard."
Did you know?
Vitor Pereira has become the second Nottingham Forest manager this season to lose his first two home games in charge, along with Ange Postecoglou. He's now lost four in a row at home in all competitions (also his last two at Wolves), his worst-ever run as a manager.
Forest winger Callum Hudson-Odoi netted his first Europa League goal since scoring for Maurizo Sarri's Chelsea side against Dynamo Kyiv back in March 2019 in a last 16 match.
