Nottingham Forest head coach Vitor Pereira said he urged his players to “express themselves” before they produced a dominant win away at Fenerbahce in the first leg of their Europa League knockout round play-off.
It proved a dream start for the Portuguese coach in his first game in charge, as Forest recorded the biggest away victory in their European history.
Goals from Murillo, Igor Jesus and captain Morgan Gibbs-White capped a dominant performance which could easily have produced an even wider margin.
Pereira told TNT Sports: “We had chance to score two more goals. It was a very good result. It is only half-time, we need to be consistent, the schedule is tight and difficult.
“Everyone must be ready to help the team. This is what I ask them.
“I realised before I came that the players have a lot of quality. They need results but they need to enjoy the game.
“If they enjoy the way they are playing they can have a high level. They need organisation and confidence. I asked them to express themselves on the pitch. They did it.”
Forest currently sit just three points above the Premier League relegation zone and survival remains the club’s primary objective this season.
However, progressing in Europe would provide a major lift in morale for a side playing continental football for the first time since the 1995-96 campaign, having famously won the European Cup twice under Brian Clough.
They will host the return leg at the City Ground on Thursday, 26 February, and are now strong favourites to advance to the last 16, where either Midtjylland or Real Betis await.
One of the major issues for Forest this season has been managerial upheaval, with Pereira becoming their fourth coach of the campaign following spells under Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou and Sean Dyche, all of whom favoured different tactical approaches.
Despite that, Gibbs-White said the squad quickly adapted to the 57-year-old’s ideas.
He said: “I felt we had a real identity out there. We defended well and we created so many chances.
“His message to us is that we will have a real identity how we play and defend as a team. We have all bought into what he wants straight away.
“It is about learning off each other and taking it game by game. We needed a clean sheet and we needed a win and today felt like the perfect moment.
“We have been going through a difficult time, confidence is the main thing and tonight will boost confidence. We just have to stay together and be the most complete team.”
