Nuno Espirito Santo says Nottingham Forest relishing unexpected Champions League chase

LONDON – Nuno Espirito Santo said his Nottingham Forest side are embracing being in the race for Champions League football and a FA Cup title challenge, after they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 away on April 21.

Forest jumped to third in the English Premier League – before Manchester City’s clash with Aston Villa on April 22 that took place after press time – and were in pole position out of the five clubs battling for the Champions League spots behind Liverpool and Arsenal.

“We are in a fight that nobody expected, us included,” Nuno said.

“We are in the mix against big teams and that only can make us proud. We embrace the challenge.”

Forest took a two-goal lead within the first 16 minutes with goals from Elliot Anderson and Chris Wood, and then soaked up Tottenham’s pressure. They cracked in the 87th minute when Richarlison headed home, but held on to emerge victorious.

Their fine season could become even better at the weekend when they face City in an FA Cup semi-final.

“We are ahead of a big week for us. We’re going to Wembley to compete against a big team and there are a lot of games ahead of us. As long as we keep this approach, competing well, you never know,” Nuno added.

Tottenham had the bulk of possession and 22 shots to Forest’s four, but Nuno has built his team on counter-attacking and intensity.

He praised defender Harry Toffolo, who enjoyed a rare appearance in the side and made a spectacular clearance off the line, and Wood, who bagged his 19th league goal of the season.

“Even though a player doesn’t start (regularly), I still believe that he’s going to play a part,” he said. “And Harry did it.”

Meanwhile, the rare smile Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou wore last week in Frankfurt was replaced by the more familiar frown as the defeat made it 18 Premier League losses for Spurs this season.

With a tough run-in to come, including a trip to champions-elect Liverpool this weekend, they are down in 16th place with 37 points. 

Tottenham’s 2-1 aggregate win over Eintracht Frankfurt, which put them in the Europa League semi-finals, kept their season alive, and Postecoglou could yet deliver on his claim that he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club.

But another damaging league defeat, their eighth at home in the league this season, increases the pressure on the 59-year-old former Celtic manager.

“It’s another game we have lost where we shouldn’t lose and it’s been a big part of our season in that we are just making things really difficult for ourselves in key moments,” Postecoglou said.

“Giving away poor goals. It’s a shame because our football was outstanding and we totally dominated the game. Even with the two goals we conceded, I still feel like we deserved to win the game.

“It’s just been a season where it’s really frustrating because our football was so good. But we have lost another game.” REUTERS