Nuno Espirito Santo breaks silence on leaving Nottingham Forest with firm response

boss rubbished speculation that he could leave the club at the end of the season. The Portuguese coach was .

Roma are set to part company with head coach Claudio Ranieri after their final Serie A game on Sunday. But Nuno dismissed the speculation over his future. He said: "Do you really think I'm going to waste time on that? So much to think and get ready (for) - my main focus is preparing the team, getting best solutions and details for players. Nothing else."

Santo said his side will be playing for Taiwo Awoniyi on Sunday as they bid to seal Champions League football.

If Forest beat top-five rivals Chelsea at the City Ground in their final Premier League game of the season and both Newcastle and Aston Villa fail to win, Nuno's side will qualify for Europe's premier competition.

Striker Awoniyi in Forest's recent home draw against Leicester and is recovering after being placed in an induced coma following surgery.

Forest's players wore t-shirts with Awoniyi's name and number on the back during the warm-up before last week's win at West Ham and Morgan Gibbs-White kissed a shirt bearing the Nigerian's name after scoring.

Nuno said: "It's going to be for Taiwo. He's not going to be with us. It was a big issue what happened to him and it's in our minds.

"We want to see him totally healthy, enjoying the group, so it's going to be for Taiwo again. For him, for us, for the fans, for the city, for everybody. But we will just play the game."

Nuno was delighted to give a positive update on the striker's recovery, adding: "He's much better. He's already been able to walk.

"The doctor has informed me he's starting his normal life in terms of food, so he's much better."

Asked whether he would be at the City Ground on Sunday, Nuno added: "I don't know. It's about the medical - I'm not sure. But he's OK."

Victory for Forest over Chelsea would be enough to secure a Europa League place whatever happens in Newcastle's home match against Everton and Villa's trip to Manchester United.

Nuno said he would not be keeping a close eye on either of those fixtures.

"No. We are playing the game. I'll be focused on the tasks on the side of the pitch," he said.

"We have to focus on what's happening. It's the only way to achieve things. Ignore what's outside and focus on your tasks."