Evangelos Marinakis releases unprecedented statement after heated viral exchange with Nuno Espírito Santo

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has released a statement after remonstrating with manager Nuno Espírito Santo at full-time following the side’s 2-2 draw against Leicester.

Sky Sports cameras captured footage of the owner walking onto the City Ground pitch before exchanging words with his manager.

Nuno subsequently confirmed that the exchange related to an incident in the game where Forest were briefly left with 10 players on the pitch, rather than any tensions between the pair.

Before those comments, Marinakis was condemned among many pundits and fans, with Gary Neville even calling for Nuno to negotiate his exit from Forest ‘tonight’.

Marinakis has now released a statement.

He said, in a statement posted to Instagram: “Today is a day for celebration, because after 30 years, Nottingham Forest is now guaranteed to be competing on the European stage once again, a promise I made to our supporters when we achieved promotion!

Evangelos Marinakis and Nuno Espirito Santo at full time (credit: getty)

"With two more games to go in the Premier League, we must keep believing and keep dreaming, right to the final kick in the final game.

“We are extremely proud and close to Nuno and the team, and we must celebrate the historic achievements of the season.

“Everybody, coaching staff, players, supporters and including myself - we were frustrated around the injury of Taiwo [Awoniyi] and the medical staff’s misjudgement of Taiwo’s ability to continue the game.

“This is natural, this is a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club.

“Let’s all be passionate, grateful and keep on dreaming!”

Forest are currently seventh in the Premier League on 62 points.

They are one point behind fifth-placed Chelsea in the race for Champions League qualification, with England earning an additional spot in next season's competition due to their UEFA co-efficient ranking.

Nuno's side travel to West Ham next weekend, before a final-day clash against Chelsea at the City Ground which could prove pivotal in the Champions League battle.