New Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira has been sent a clear warning by the club as they make their feelings crystal clear ahead of Fenerbahçe.
Pereira faces his first crucial test as Nottingham Forest boss on Thursday night when Fenerbahçe visit the City Ground for a Europa League knockout clash that could set the tone for his entire survival mission.
The former Wolves boss takes charge of his opening match having inherited a relegation scrap from the sacked Sean Dyche just over a week ago.
Thursday’s European fixture offers Pereira precious little preparation time before Sunday’s absolutely massive Premier League showdown against Liverpool at home.
Forest sit three points clear of West Ham in the final relegation zone, making every fixture between now and May potentially season-defining.
Pereira knows Thursday represents his chance to establish momentum before facing Arne Slot’s Liverpool side, who are desperate for points themselves.
The 57-year-old arrives with huge expectations following his remarkable Wolves rescue last season.
Pereira kept the Molineux side up despite arriving mid-campaign to find them battling against the drop. Forest’s hierarchy hope he can deliver identical heroics at the City Ground in the final months.
Nottingham Forest make feelings clear as Pereira sent pre-Fenerbahce warning
However, according to Football Insider, Pereira faces getting sacked this summer if Forest suffer relegation, regardless of any mitigating circumstances.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis operates with ruthless efficiency, having already cycled through four permanent managers this season alone following the departures of Nuno Espírito Santo, Ange Postecoglou and Dyche.
Pereira understands how Marinakis operates from their previous working relationship at Olympiakos, where he delivered a domestic double back in 2015.
Yet, that familiarity won’t save him if Forest drop into the Championship come May.
The club’s hierarchy aren’t providing any long-term vision or planning with Pereira. His mandate couldn’t be clearer: keep Forest up or face immediate dismissal once relegation gets confirmed.
There’s zero talk about building for next season or implementing any sustained project, with Pereira sent a clear warning by the Tricky Trees ahead of his dugout debut.
Pereira’s opening fixtures make for grim reading when compared directly against West Ham’s upcoming schedule.
Both clubs face Liverpool, Man City and Fulham in their next five league matches, creating a direct points battle that’ll likely determine who survives.
West Ham draw first blood when they host Bournemouth before Forest tackle Liverpool the following afternoon. Those 24 hours could prove absolutely massive in shaping the relegation picture heading into March’s crucial run.
Forest desperately need to collect more points than the Hammers across this five-game stretch. Otherwise, Pereira could easily find his team sitting inside the bottom three before he’s barely settled into his new surroundings.
The situation gets worse when considering what relegation means for Forest’s squad.
Morgan Gibbs-White’s departure becomes increasingly inevitable if they’re relegated, with Aston Villa and others circling the England international.
Murillo and Elliot Anderson are also attracting serious Premier League interest from elite clubs waiting to pounce.
Make no mistake, a mass exodus looms if Forest fail to beat the drop.
Marinakis would face rebuilding his entire squad whilst simultaneously replacing Pereira with yet another manager for the Championship campaign.
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The Tricky Trees want to ward off suitors this summer.