Head coach Sabri Lamouchi says it was just a “tactical choice” to leave club record signing Joao Carvalho and defender Chema out of the Nottingham Forest squad at Brentford.
The Reds climbed to third in the Championship table as they triumphed 1-0 at Griffin Park thanks to Joe Lolley’s first half goal.
But amid speculation about both of their futures, as the January transfer window comes to a close, Carvalho and Chema were perhaps the most notable absentees in the capital.
The pair have not been regular starters this season and were on the bench in the previous game against Reading, with Carvalho coming on for the final half hour.
The midfielder has reportedly been on the radar of fellow Evangelos Marinakis-owned club Olympiacos and Trabzonspor this month, while Chema has been linked with Almeria and Getafe.
Lamouchi, though, insists they remain key figures as his side look to continue their promotion push.
“Tactically, it was a little bit different. And my plan for the bench was also a different profile,” he said, when explaining the duo’s absence.
“It was just a tactical decision, that’s it, nothing else.
“We need them.
“We have 17 games to play. It will be very difficult and very tough.
“We need the same attitude from the players. We need them to be like they were at Brentford.
“But to keep this attitude, this level, for 17 games, believe me, it is not easy.
“So we just need to think about the next one, then after that, the next one, then again and again and again.”
