Wtf is that mess?

comment by Doha-red (U10797)
posted 36 minutes ago
Forest into European competition for the first time in three decades
25 May 2025 6:12pm BST
John Percy
As Nottingham Forest’s players celebrated in front of 3,000 jubilant supporters after the club’s first win at Liverpool since 1969, it was clear that something was stirring.
The season was less than a month old, yet, as Nuno Espirito Santo walked off the Anfield pitch, he was sensing a change in the mentality of his players.
After two successive relegation scraps with safety not assured until the penultimate and final day respectively, the mood felt different. Forest were finally dreaming big.
Since that statement victory over Liverpool in September, Forest have provided one of the underdog stories of the season.
With memorable wins over Manchester City, Aston Villa and Brighton, plus the double over Tottenham and Manchester United, they have secured a return to European football for the first time in three decades. Throw in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, too.
Forest are also the first team in Premier League history to more than double their points tally in the following season, from 32 to 65.
Matz Sels celebrates winning the Premier League Golden Glove, which he shared with Arsenal's David Raya
Matz Sels shows off his Golden Glove award, which he shared with Arsenal’s David Raya Credit: Reuters/Ed Sykes
There have been so many standout players, from 20-goal scorer Chris Wood to Nikola Milenkovic (aka the Serbinator), and Murillo to Golden Glove winner Matz Sels who finished with the most clean sheets this season (13), tied with Arsenal’s David Raya. You could mention at least four or five others.
At heart of Forest’s transformation has been Nuno
But at the heart of Forest’s transformation has been Nuno, their brooding and brilliant head coach. He is a man who dreads compliments or praise, fearing it can lead to complacency. Look away now, Nuno, for he would be a deserving winner of manager of the season.
Nuno is the Zen-like figure who can often appear irritable in press conferences, but his human touch has been key with gestures like buying Christmas presents for Forest’s office staff. His dancing in a Greek restaurant, during a short team-bonding break in Dubai earlier this year, is said to have been outstanding by those who witnessed it.
While there may be some disappointment over missing out on Champions League or Europa League qualification on the final day – Forest occupied the top four from December 21 to April 19 – it still remains a fine achievement.
Forest will now aim to push on another level, with owner Evangelos Marinakis determined to ensure that the club competes in Europe on an annual basis.
It has been quite a turnaround, especially from the dark days of last season which included a points deduction and countless refereeing controversies.
Nottingham Forest players after training at Pinatar Arena on July 24, 2024 in Murcia, Spain
Forest’s fun-filled pre-season camp in Murcia, Spain, helped lay the foundations for their successful season Credit: Getty Images/Ritchie Sumpter
Last summer, in the baking-hot temperatures of a pre-season training camp in Murcia, the seeds were sown. Players point to that 10-day stay as a fundamental part of the club’s success this season. There was a feeling of stability, not always a word associated with Forest since promotion.
Away from the training pitches it was one night in particular, at the Odiseo restaurant in the city centre, that stood out. New signings performed their initiation songs, including Bella Ciao from Milenkovic, a bargain £10.1 million signing from Fiorentina.
With the good vibes flowing, Nuno was persuaded by the squad to extend the night by an extra hour. And then another hour. And then another. It helped massively in building the team spirit that Nuno believes is vital to any successful team.
Ryan Yates, the club’s captain, says: “I had a feeling this year that we could achieve something good, and we all felt it in pre-season.
“Keeping the core of our players was so important and then we recruited so well on top of that. We just went into the season with a good foundation and a lot of momentum.”
For Nuno, it is all about the bond between his players and staying humble. This season the dressing room has remained consistently strong, especially during tough moments.
Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest celebrates with the shirt of Taiwo Awoniyi after opening the scoring against West Ham United FC on May 18, 2025
Taiwo Awoniyi’s injury only strengthened the team’s resolve – as Morgan Gibbs-White demonstrated after scoring against West Ham
That spirit was underlined this month by the squad’s response to Taiwo Awoniyi’s injury against Leicester, which required the forward to undergo surgery on a ruptured intestine.
Standing ovation in the dressing room
When Harry Toffolo produced an excellent performance in the 2-1 win over Tottenham last month, in his first league start of the season, he received a standing ovation in the dressing room.
There is no question that the players are extremely close. Yates, the resident barista, leads the “coffee club” while many play rounds of golf together.
On long away trips, games of Ludo have become hotly contested on the team bus. Games of padel, table tennis and even cricket are the norm at the training ground. A tennis court is a popular new addition near the gymnasium area.
Callum Hudson-Odoi of Nottingham Forest on the Wembley pitch prior to the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City
Callum Hudson-Odoi takes great pride in his role as Forest’s dressing-room DJ Credit: Getty Images/Justin Setterfield
Callum Hudson-Odoi is the dressing-room DJ, a role he takes great pride in, while Forest’s Portuguese and Brazilian contingent are comfortable and embrace the resenha – a Portuguese slang word for chilling out and joking around.
The senior leadership group consists of Yates, Morgan Gibbs-White, Chris Wood and Willy Boly, who govern the fines system on behalf of Nuno.
Forest’s training ground has been revamped in recent years, particularly over the last 12 months, and those improvements have raised standards. In the main meeting room, the words to Forest’s adopted anthem, Mull of Kintyre, are emblazoned across the walls.
This is where Nuno delivers his tactical ideas and philosophy. Before that historic win at Liverpool in September, he made it clear very early in the week that his team would operate with five midfielders.
The plan was to overload Liverpool and restrict possession, before then introducing Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga late on when the game was stretched.
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Elanga’s pass from the right released Hudson-Odoi, who bent a shot into the corner from 20 yards. Forest remained resilient, with their goalkeeper Sels offering a hint of the stellar season that was to follow.
Possession is overrated in ‘Nuno-Ball’
That game was a perfect example of ‘Nuno-Ball’, where possession is overrated. Nuno is perfectly happy for the opposition to hog the ball, almost playing like an away team at their City Ground home.
Speed is also vital for Nuno’s game model. Elanga is one of the fastest players in the league and for his winner against United in April, he advanced 85 metres in just nine seconds.
Within the dressing room, that victory was considered another standout result that perhaps went under the radar: Forest had been taken to penalties at Brighton in a gruelling FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday night and then faced United less than 72 hours later.
Murillo’s dramatic goal-line clearance in added time that night was further evidence of Forest’s defensive solidity this season. They are the only team to keep a clean sheet against champions Liverpool in the league.
Nikola Milenkovic wins an aerial duel against Manchester City
Nikola Milenkovic has been a devastating target man for Forest, winning almost 70 per cent of his duels Credit: Shutterstock/Vince Mignott
Milenkovic has the best success rate of any player to contest 100-plus duels this season, winning almost 70 per cent.
Perhaps surprisingly, Forest have also been kings of the set-piece, notching 17 goals from them in the league, the most of any team this season.
There is no doubt that the final weeks have been nervy and that Forest have limped over the finish line. When Forest were flying there was a buzz around the prospect of beating teams and surprising people. Then it became different around the business end.
After that victory over United on April 1, Forest cemented their place in third, with an eight-point lead over fourth-placed Chelsea.
That has gradually been whittled away with two wins in the final eight games, including four defeats.
In the end, they still did enough to guarantee European football through the Conference League next season.
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis at the City Ground on May 11, 2025.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis plans to invest heavily in the club going forward Credit: PA/Mike Egerton
Marinakis plans to invest heavily, within the framework of the Premier League’s financial controls. Shrewd recruitment will be vitally important, and has been an area where Forest have largely excelled over the past two years.
The increase in games will ensure Forest require more depth and quality for the squad. They will also have to consider the Africa Cup of Nations, which takes place in Morocco and runs from December 21 until January 18.
Forest’s transfer chiefs consist of Ross Wilson, chief football officer, George Syrianos, technical director, and Pedro Ferreira, head of recruitment.
‘Club has built a very strong infrastructure’
In his first interview since his appointment in April 2023, Wilson told Telegraph Sport: “Since coming into the Premier League the club has built a very strong infrastructure, with massive ambition from the owner to drive it all forward.
“In the four transfer windows I’ve been here, we’ve had a lot of stability with the squad and consistency. It’s very much a collective effort and there are conversations daily between George, Pedro and myself.
“We feel we have strong player knowledge inside the club, and another big advantage with the owner is that we can make decisions quickly.”
Forest will aim to sign at least five new players. They want to hold talks with Ipswich forward Liam Delap, who is available for £30 million but widely expected to join Manchester United.
Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest acknowledges the fans after the team's defeat in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City
Gibbs-White’s fine season has attracted the interest of Manchester City Credit: Getty Images/Justin Setterfield
There could be some uncomfortable decisions with some players leaving, too. Gibbs-White, the England international, is a target for Manchester City. Toffolo and Boly are out of contract, while the futures of Jota Silva, Ramon Sosa and Carlos Miguel are uncertain.
Marinakis is now expected to return to Forest’s board, after the club missed out on the Champions League. He remains highly ambitious, and feels that Forest are in their rightful place punching away at the heavyweights.
Like Aston Villa, and FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, Forest’s success has been a refreshing antidote to the ‘Big Six’ obsession.
“There have been a lot of things this season that nobody expected, including us,” says Nuno. “There has been the improvement of all the clubs in the Premier League, reducing the gap. It’s evident for everybody to see and it’s very good for the Premier League, and for the game.
“I think we are getting closer and it’s going to get tighter again next season.”
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We doubled up on the Hammers too!

comment by 98 Problems (and promotion ain’t one) (U12353)
posted 1 day, 21 hours ago
Still you have a realistic chance of winning the conference league. I mean it’s the European equivalent of the Johnstons paint trophy but it’s silverware. You should win it - the teams you’ll face are absolutely awful
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In a weird twist of irony, it's highly possible Leicester WILL be playing in the Johnstones Paint trophy in two years' time.