Nuno Espirito Santo insists his Nottingham Forest players are handling the pressure of unexpected European challenge | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo says he is pleased with the way his team are handling the increased expectation around the club despite their recent dip in form.

Consecutive defeats for Forest have seen Newcastle United leapfrog them into third position, with the gap from the Reds to seventh now only three points.

But the Forest boss says his side are embracing the challenge of fighting for Champions League football.

“The expectation around us started the moment that we were able to perform and get results,” he said.

“That’s the expectation of us achieving something that was not in the initial plans, to fight for the competitions that we are fighting for. We are delighted. We embrace the challenge.

“It is not stepping back, it is stepping in. We want to embrace it, we want to try and get it. It’s going to be very hard but, believe me, we are putting everything in the final stage of the season.”

Abdoulaye Doucouré’s injury-time winner at the City Ground saw Nuno’s side walk away with nothing in their last outing against Everton, narrowing the gap between Forest and the chasing pack.

“The [psychological] blow is on us,” Espirito Santo admitted. “We were not able to perform as well as we wished, especially in the last game. We were not in the game, so that was a blow for us.

“In regards to the other teams, nothing has changed since last week. It’s up to us, it’s in our hands and we cannot control the results. We have to focus and it’s about reacting and improving.”

Reflecting on the result, Nuno conceded that his side were unable to grow into the game, allowing Everton to maintain possession and create numerous chances.

“If you watch the game, the main thing was Everton,” he said. “They played really good, they were dominant and they were physical. They controlled the game. That was the main aspect of the game. We were not able to get into the game, only a small spell in the second half.

“The main reason in the future is going to be us improving and the opponents that we have, the psychological part of this is what we have been facing since the start of the season. Every game requires focus and concentration, nothing has changed.”

Whilst Nottingham Forest have until Monday night to prepare for their next game, their opponents Tottenham Hotspur face the biggest game of their season against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League on Thursday.

Spurs’ chances of European football next season rely on them winning the tournament, with the quarter-final score at 1-1 heading into the second leg.

When asked about whether it will affect the fixture between the two sides on Monday night, Nuno responded: “I cannot answer that, but we’re going to watch the game. It’s a big game for us, as analysis will determine what expect on the Monday night line=up, so our focus is on that.”

Ange Postecoglou remains under pressure at Spurs, given their poor form in the league, including losses to both relegation-threatened sides Leicester City and Ipswich this season.

“All managers, we face the same. It’s up to us to try and ignore it and focus on the job we can control,” former Spurs boss Espirito Santo said.

“Like me, like Ange, like all the managers in the world, what we can control is preparing our players.”