PEREIRA ERA BEGINS: NOTTINGHAM FOREST CRUSH FENERBAHCE 3-0 IN EUROPA LEAGUE PLAY-OFF DEBUT
Vitor Pereira's Forest era starts with a bang! Discover how Igor Jesus and Gibbs-White secured a 3-0 Europa League win in Istanbul.
That was some debut for Vitor Pereira as Nottingham Forest’s new boss. After three managers came and went, maybe the fourth time really is the charm.
Pereira didn’t get an easy start, either. Fenerbahce away in a high-stakes Europa League play-off? That’s a baptism by fire. He’s the fourth man in the hot seat this season, stepping in after Forest sent Sean Dyche packing.
Funny thing is, people said the same things about Dyche when he took over. He steadied the team right away, especially after Ange Postecoglou left things in a mess. Dyche brought back the basics: tight defence and no-nonsense football. And honestly, it worked for a bit, just like it did under Nuno Espirito Santo.
But then the wheels started to come off. Forest looked like they were steering straight for relegation with Dyche in charge.
Marinakis, the owner, decided Pereira was the man to avoid disaster. First job: survive Fenerbahçe away. No one expected it to be easy.
Forest actually started well. They kept the ball, used it smartly, and looked sharp. Pereira made a bold call starting two quick wingers, Omari Hutchinson and Callum Hudson-Odoi, with Morgan Gibbs-White playing just behind Igor Jesus, who’s been unstoppable in the Europa League.
It paid off. Gibbs-White and Jesus linked up for Forest’s second goal after Murillo rampaged forward and finally smashed the ball past Ederson (yes, that Ederson). Jesus barely had to do anything for his seventh Europa League goal in as many games, thanks to a wild headed assist from Gibbs-White – a move you don’t usually get from your playmaker, twisting at the front post and somehow finding the Brazilian.
Then Gibbs-White scored himself in the second half. 3-0 in Istanbul. Forest has one foot in the last 16 already.
Now, let’s be honest, Fenerbahçe aren’t exactly European giants. They haven’t won their league in ages. But with a midfield of Kante, Guendouzi, and Talisca? Semedo and Asensio on the flanks? Is Domenico Tedesco in charge? On paper, they should’ve put up a real fight.
Instead, they were just… awful. Shockingly bad. Honestly, they looked as poor as Qarabag did yesterday.
Forest could’ve slipped up or failed to take advantage, but they didn’t. They bossed the match from start to finish. Never in doubt.
So yeah, it’s a great start for Pereira. But we’ve seen this before. Dyche’s first game looked good, too. We’re not getting carried away just yet.
And let’s be real about Dyche; people call him a firefighter, but how many relegation scraps has he actually won? One with Everton, if you count last season, though most thought they’d survive anyway. He got sacked by Burnley before the end of their last relegation battle, and they went down the season before that, too.
Pereira’s got a better record. He took over Wolves when they were 19th in the Premier League, nine points from 16 games, basically dead and buried. Four months later, they were safe, 12 points clear, and had beaten Manchester United twice. Not bad.
Things eventually went south for him at Wolves, but Forest still saw enough to hand him the keys to their burning house or, if you prefer, the sinking ship. This is the same club that sacked Nuno, hired Ange, then Dyche, so logic isn’t really their thing, but here we are.
Maybe the fourth manager will finally get it right. Forest were excellent against Fenerbahçe and look set for the Europa League last 16. If they keep playing like this, the chaos might finally pay off.
CARLO ANCELOTTI ISSUES TWO-MONTH WORLD CUP ULTIMATUM TO SANTOS STAR NEYMAR
Carlo Ancelotti confirms Neymar has two months to prove his fitness for the 2026 World Cup. Read the full Selecao update.
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Everyone’s talking about Neymar again as the 2026 World Cup edges closer. It’s the same old debate: does he still have a spot with Brazil? But this time there’s real hope on the table. Carlo Ancelotti’s left the door open for Neymar to make the cut. Even though Neymar hasn’t made the latest squads, he’s obviously still on the minds of the Selecao coaches.
Here’s the situation: Neymar's been battling injuries since he tore his ACL. He missed the season’s first 10 games after knee surgery last December. He got back on the field, but fitness issues and a suspension meant he still watched from the sidelines quite a bit. Still, Ancelotti isn’t ruling him out. In an interview with L’Equipe, Ancelotti emphasised Neymar’s reputation but also made something very clear: if Neymar wants the World Cup, he needs to earn it.
Talent isn't a question; nobody doubts Neymar’s skill. What matters for Ancelotti is being fit. No exceptions, no matter how big the star. “Neymar can come back. I’ve said it before, and it’s simple: only physically ready players get called up,” Ancelotti said flat-out. “His recovery from the knee injury is going well; he’s scoring again. He just needs to keep pushing and get fitter. He’s headed in the right direction.”
With 79 goals in 128 matches, Neymar has shaped Brazil’s football history. Ancelotti gets that fans want to see Neymar try one more time for the one trophy he’s never won. “Neymar belongs to Brazil’s football story. He’s hugely talented, so obviously people hope he’ll help us win the next World Cup. Right now, he’s under assessment not just by the CBF but by me, too. He’s got two months left to show he has what it takes for the World Cup,” Ancelotti said.
Neymar’s chance to prove himself is coming fast, with big matches for Santos ahead. He’s expected to start this Saturday when they face Atlético-MG at Vila Belmiro. If Neymar stays healthy and sharp, that final World Cup dream is still alive.
BRAD FRIEDEL LABELS WESTON MCKENNIE THE "MOST TALENTED" USMNT PLAYER OVER PULISIC
Brad Friedel sparks debate by naming Weston McKennie as more talented than Christian Pulisic for the USMNT in 2026.
Former USMNT goalkeeper Brad Friedel doesn’t think Christian Pulisic is the top American player right now. In his eyes, Weston McKennie is the most talented option Mauricio Pochettino's got, even though Pulisic usually gets all the attention as “Captain America.”
Pulisic does have his fans, but he hasn’t scored for the national team since 2024 and was pretty quiet during the last international break. The US had a rough time, losing 5-2 to Belgium and 2-0 to Portugal. Those friendlies were supposed to get the team ready for big opponents at the 2026 World Cup, but honestly, they just brought up even more doubts. McKennie was one of the few players who actually looked up for it, and Friedel is absolutely convinced he’s the best talent the US has right now.
The team was missing some key names, too. Miles Robinson, Chris Richards, and Tyler Adams were all out. Richards made it back for the Portugal game, but Adams’ absence in midfield was impossible to ignore. Friedel says people are making too much of these recent defeats. He thinks you have to judge the team on how they do in big tournaments, especially this summer. Still, he admits Adams is the one who keeps everyone connected, and when he’s out there, it makes McKennie better, which ends up making life easier for Pulisic.
Pochettino has a headache picking his squad for the World Cup. He’s still not set on his goalkeeper, his defence, his midfield, or even the attack. According to Friedel, no matter who fills those spots, the USMNT’s hopes really come down to what McKennie and Adams bring to the table.
Talking to Express Sport via Oddspedia, Friedel said, “The U.S. has always needed all our best guys. We’ve never been the kind of team that can go 30 deep and not lose quality except in 2002. That was the only year when anyone could’ve started, and we wouldn’t have missed a beat. Tyler is the glue for the team. He doesn’t care if you’re seven feet tall; if you’re not pulling your weight, he’ll call you out. He’s just that type of player.”
Friedel went on, “I coached a lot of these guys when I ran the under-19s. Weston McKennie is, for me, the most talented footballer we have. He can do so many things, but he needs to be fit and focused. With Juventus this season, he’s looked sharp, and he’s carrying that form into the World Cup. If he’s got Tyler alongside him, no matter where Weston ends up playing, Tyler keeps him disciplined. You always get the best version of McKennie when Adams is on the field. If those two are fit and playing well, they open up the space that lets Christian do what he does best.”
Pochettino is staring down a huge challenge to get this team ready for the World Cup. He knows they’re nowhere near their peak, but he keeps insisting they’re not far off either. If Adams can stay healthy, something that’s been tough for him lately, that would take a lot of pressure off the coach. Without him, it shows. With him, everything just seems to fall into place.
