“If I was Steve Cooper I’d be absolutely raging, it’s as if to say there was no togetherness before he arrived at the club, Steve Cooper was the most popular manager since Brian Clough”- Martin O’Neill says Steve Cooper should be furious with what Nuno has said at Nottingham Forest
These days Martin O’Neill is never backwards when it comes to coming forward and giving a negative opinion on Nottingham Forest. Now, Nuno Espirito Santo has said something that he thinks Steve Cooper should be furious with.
The former Wolves head coach replaced Cooper at the helm in December 2023. It ended a successful spell in charge for the Welshman who had ended the club’s 23-year wait to return to the Premier League.
Espirito Santo was in desperate need of a victory last night when Forest took on Fulham. The 3-1 win was done in some style, with the Reds racing into a 3-0 lead at the half-time interval.
Now, O’Neill has taken offence to something that Nuno alluded to in his post-match press conference last night – and he thinks Cooper should be equally furious.
Martin O’Neill thinks Steve Cooper should be furious with Forest head coach Nuno
Well, it would appear that once again O’Neill has gone a little over the top here with his criticism of Forest. Although he’s got the pitchfork out again, he’d be wise to get the full picture.
After the game, Espirito Santo even namechecked Cooper when asked about the togetherness within the Forest squad.
He told Nottinghamshire Live: “I’m going to be honest, this togetherness we have has been present every day since we arrived. Even with Steve Cooper. They are a very good group of people.”
O’Neill still found time to take aim at Espirito Santo though. He felt that Cooper had every right to be angry at the comments made after the win last night.
He told TalkSPORT: “What does any manager who steps into a job mean by that comment? You know if I was Steve Cooper I’d be absolutely raging about that it’s as if to say there was no togetherness before he arrived at the football club.
“I’m not having that thing togetherness has just arrived there. Steve Cooper was the most popular manager since Brian Clough you know. I’m not an apologist for Steve Cooper by the way, I’m just saying that this has happened before.
“There’s a togetherness and that’s fine but don’t say it’s since we arrived.”
It would appear that the Miracle Man simply can’t let his sacking from the club as manager go. He clearly has an axe to grind and has dug out Espirito Santo incorrectly.
The current head coach has never dug out his predecessor during his time at Forest. From day one he has always shown respect to the work done by Cooper and the head coach does deserve respect for that.
O’Neill has to let things go. Forest have moved on from having the European Cup winner as the incumbent and the Reds did regress under his stewardship.
Espirito Santo has a clear remit at Forest this season and it’s to keep the Reds in the Premier League. Last night’s win over Fulham gives the team a great chance and the head coach will be hoping for more wins.
If Forest do stay up, perhaps O’Neill can finally give Espirito Santo some praise.
