May 13 – Evangelos Marinakis, Nottingham Forest’s larger-than-life Greek shipping magnate owner, delivered a public dressing-down of manager Nuno Espirito Santo that was extraordinary even by his volcanic standards.
As the final whistle echoed around the City Ground following Forest’s frustrating 2-2 draw with already-relegated rivals Leicester City, Marinakis stormed onto the pitch, gesticulating wildly at his Portuguese manager over a chaotic late substitution involving striker Taiwo Awoniyi.
In a match Forest desperately needed to win to keep their UEFA Champions League qualification hopes flickering, confusion reigned supreme when medical staff initially indicated Awoniyi could continue after crashing violently into the post during Forest’s frantic search for a winner.
This misinformation derailed Nuno’s substitution strategy – instead of replacing the Nigerian, he introduced Jota Silva, only for Awoniyi to subsequently signal he couldn’t continue. With their final substitution window exhausted, Forest were effectively reduced to ten men, triggering Marinakis’s remarkable meltdown.
The Forest owner, who rarely hides his ‘real thoughts’, said in a statement defending his actions: “We were frustrated around the injury of Taiwo and the medical staff’s misjudgement on his ability to continue. This is natural, a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club.
“Today is a day for celebration, because after 30 years Nottingham Forest is now guaranteed European football once again – a promise I made when we achieved promotion. With two more games to go, we must keep believing and dreaming. We are extremely proud and close to Nuno and the team.”
Sky pundit Gary Neville wasn’t buying the justification, branding Marinakis’s behavior “scandalous.”
Nuno, perhaps mindful of keeping his job and the European adventure he helped secure after rescuing Forest from the relegation abyss last season, diplomatically sidestepped criticism of his boss.
“It [the conversation with Marinakis] was due to the confusion over Awoniyi’s substitution,” Nuno explained. “We made a different sub and after that played with one man less, which frustrates everyone. Football is emotions. It’s difficult to control, especially with so much expectation.”
Asked whether his owner had crossed a line, Nuno added: “It is because of the owner and his passion that we are growing as a club. He pushes us. He wants us to be better. It is his passion and desire to be a big club. For sure, many of the 30,000 here today would go on the pitch and shake us down. As a club, we owe a lot to the Marinakis family.”
Forest now has a crucial trip to West Ham before facing fellow Champions League qualification rivals Chelsea. These two contests are simply ‘must-win’ matches if they’re to return to Europe’s top table for the first time since being crowned continental champions in 1980.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1747152063labto1747152063ofdlr1747152063owedi1747152063sni@r1747152063etsbe1747152063w.kci1747152063n1747152063