Pereira channels inner Arteta with melodic training ground ploy as Forest are looking to secure Premier League safety
Nottingham Forest head into a pivotal evening at the Stadium of Light with Vítor Pereira adopting the kind of creative motivational methods previously popularised by Mikel Arteta.
The Reds arrive in the North East on Friday prepared to face a Sunderland side that has proven difficult to break down on home soil.
There is an atmosphere of encouraging calm within the squad, as the coaching staff have prioritised a relaxed environment to help the players navigate the immense pressure of a Premier League survival battle.
While the general mood is positive following a dominant 4-1 victory over Burnley last weekend, the threat of the drop zone remains a primary worry for the hierarchy with just five matches remaining.
Pereira has introduced a series of creative training habits designed to ensure his players enter these high-stakes matches with maximum confidence and minimal emotional clutter.
In a move reminiscent of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s most creative tactical psychological ploys, Pereira has begun allowing the squad to blast music from loudspeakers during the final training session before a match.
The Portuguese coach believes this is a mechanical necessity for reducing pre-match tension, mirroring Arteta’s famous use of speakers to play out ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ before a trip to Anfield.
Just as the Arsenal boss has used everything from light bulbs to create energy to playing AI-generated TikTok edits on giant screens to rouse his players, Pereira is using rhythm to combat the stressful and tense environment of a relegation scrap.
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Pereira’s musical ploy
The influence of Arteta’s “All or Nothing” approach is evident in how Pereira is managing the group’s mental state during the final stretch of the 2025/26 campaign.
While the Arsenal manager has recently been seen making players race while balancing pens and footballs to encourage focus, Pereira is focusing on the vibe of the Nigel Doughty Academy.
“Music makes me feel good and gives a good vibe,” Pereira said. “In the training before the match, I realise sometimes they are a bit stressful. I want a good environment and to see them happy.”
While Arteta’s methods often involve complex metaphors, such as planting a 150-year-old olive tree to symbolise the club’s roots, Pereira’s approach is more rhythmic.
However, the manager admitted that he occasionally clashes with the players over their playlist choices. A fan of the 80s, Pereira joked that some of the modern tracks selected by the squad aren’t exactly to his taste.
“If it was my choice, it would be the music from when I was a teenager,” he added. “But I give them the responsibility. If you keep smiling, you can do fantastic things.”
As Forest look to extend their seven-game unbeaten run, the focus remains on whether these Arteta-esque psychological boosts can provide the edge needed at the Stadium of Light.
With the Reds currently five points clear of 18th-placed Tottenham Hotspur, the shift toward a more high-energy, positive environment appears to be yielding results.