Boss Nuno Espirito Santo has a strong Nottingham Forest squad and has overseen a superb start to the season
In the aftermath of Nottingham Forest’s draw at Brighton and Hove Albion, the club posted a collection of pictures on social media telling the story of the afternoon.
One shows the Reds lining up before kick-off at the Amex Stadium, smoke from the pre-match pyrotechnics billowing across the pitch in the background. Nikola Milenkovic, Alex Moreno, Anthony Elanga, Ola Aina and Callum Hudson-Odoi are standing with feet planted on the ground, ready for business.
And then there is Murillo. Positioned between Milenkovic and Moreno, the Brazilian is captured bounding up into the air. It is not just any old leap, either; he has powered himself impossibly high.
His career will no doubt head in the same direction. Indeed, it hasn’t taken long after the end of the summer window for the transfer talk about the defender to start back up again. Real Madrid are the latest side reportedly casting admiring glances in his direction.
Good luck trying to prise him away in January, though. Murillo is destined to move on at some point, but Forest will surely be keen to keep him for the full season at least. If the 22-year-old has another stellar campaign Trentside, his price tag is only going to go the way of his pre-match leaps.
But not only that, the Reds are doing well. If they can keep this squad together, and even add to it in the winter window, there is no reason why they cannot be pushing up the Premier League table.
In Murillo and Milenkovic they have an excellent central defensive partnership. The younger man has benefitted from having the more experienced Serbia international alongside him.
Milenkovic is a leader. He is constantly talking to his teammates on the pitch, directing them and encouraging them. The pair work incredibly well together.
Stats produced by TheOther14 on X show the extent of the duo’s work at Brighton. The account looks at stats for players and teams outside the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’. In match week five, Murillo and Milenkovic topped the table for most combined blocks and clearances.
Murillo made a total of 17 with two blocks and 15 clearances. His defensive partner made three blocks and eight clearances.
Forest have had some brilliant defenders in the past. The Red Wall of the promotion-winning season of Joe Worrall, Steve Cook and Scott McKenna was the stuff of legend.
In Willy Boly, Andrew Omobamidele and newcomer Morato, head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has some fine options in the current squad. He can play three at the back should he wish. But it is unlikely anyone will be able to unseat Murillo and Milenkovic as the first-choice partnership in a four-man defence at the moment.
Reds fans had a long wait to see their team back in the Premier League. After successive seasons of battling to avoid relegation, this term is all about kicking on.
Supporters have waited years for a squad such as this; one with such strength in depth and quality across the pitch. And Murillo and Milenkovic are very much at the heart of it.
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