Credit: Imago

Jack Dawson

Fri 13 March 2026 9:30, UK

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Nottingham Forest fans have blasted the performance of Morato after their 1-0 defeat to Midtjylland.

The Reds saw out a defeat in the first leg of their round of 16 Europa League tie on Thursday, in what proved to be a woeful performance.

Vitor Pereira’s side struggled to break the Danish side down and had few clear-cut chances despite their massive shot count.

At the back, things weren’t much better, with numerous mistakes allowing Midtjylland in behind needlessly.

One of the worst offenders was Morato, with fans enraged at just how bad the centre-back is in the terrible Nottingham Forest defeat.

Nottingham Forest fans blast Morato after display vs Midtjylland

Morato has continued to struggle at Nottingham Forest since his move to the City Ground in 2024.

When he is given a chance, he rarely takes it, which has led to many of his appearances coming solely in cup competitions.

The defender is prone to mistakes, and this was on show yet again on Thursday before he was taken off at the break.

While this did not prove to be costly in the first period, Forest fans have now seen enough, as they insist that the 24-year-old is the worst centre-back to play for the club.

i genuinely can’t watch Morato anymore

— Joel_NFFC🇧🇷 (@joel_francis363) March 12, 2026

Slept on that result without comment. Morato was awful, Aina at fault for the goal and there’s so little confidence in front of goal. Looked better with Williams on against a team who didn’t attack but overall wasn’t a terrible performance, just cannot score. #nffc

— Jonathan Hill (@Jonathan__Hill) March 13, 2026

Have we had a worse CB than Morato? Never known someone in that position to let the ball bounce as much as he does, it’s basic schoolboy stuff. Genuinely give Abbott a go there we need to change again. #NFFC

— Kieran Gaughan (@KieranGaughan) March 13, 2026

if cunha is injured, i’d rather go back to a back 4 than stomach morato playing.

— Rocky2 🫶 (@rocky3red) March 12, 2026

How many games will he play until people realise Morato is Sunday league level? #nffc

— Tom (@TomHolmes0107) March 12, 2026

Far too slow again! We need to pass so much quicker! Morato a car crash yet again takes too long on the ball thinks he’s Murillo! Too slow out the back

— -Curtis Orange (@CurttNFFC) March 12, 2026

Morato dragged at half time, love to see it It’s what I would imagine having a fan play with the team look like #NFFC

— MB (@Michael_Baz92) March 12, 2026

How bad was Morato vs Midtjylland?

Ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness has already told Football Insider that Pereira will be under pressure at Nottingham Forest; therefore, it is no surprise the manager was not taking any risks with Morato.

The first-half was all the centre-back saw on Thursday, and based on his stats on Fotmob on 13 March, it is no wonder why.

Morato failed to complete a single dribble or long ball, lost all of his ground duels, won just one of his aerial duels and was dribbled past once.

Perhaps his only positives were the fact that he only misplaced four of his passes and the fact that he completed six clearances.

Going forward, it is becoming increasingly clear that the defender simply does not have the quality to compete at Forest.

Therefore, the right solution for both parties may be for them to part ways in the summer transfer window, especially if Forest manage to keep themselves in the Premier League.