Nottingham Forest earned another chance at a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League over the weekend with a 2 – 1 away win over West Ham United. This win sees them draw level on 65 points with Manchester City (who are yet to play their week 37 fixture) but remain in seventh place on goal difference. They are already certain of a first appearance in European competition in 30 years, but they will now have to navigate their final fixture and hope that the teams above them fail to perform well if their European appearance will be in the 2025/26 Champions League.
The win was a hard-fought one, and Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has dedicated it to Taiwo Awoniyi, who is recovering from surgery after suffering a horror injury in their last Premier League outing.
The 27-year-old, on Sunday, said he feels lucky to be alive, writing on Instagram: “With the grace of God, I am grateful to still be here, to still be fighting, to still be smiling, and to be in good spirits.”
The Nigeria international and former Liverpool forward collided with a goal post when challenging for a ball in the box last weekend, when they drew 2 – 2 with Leicester City. The collision led to a ruptured intestine, which led to him having to be placed in an induced coma for a while before surgical procedures were carried out.
The players dedicated their goals to him, with Morgan Gibbs-White, one of the scorers, holding up his shirt in support after scoring the opening goal. “The whole week has been tough on everyone, Gibbs-White said in the mixed zone after the match. “Wednesday was our first day back in and the place was pretty lifeless; everyone was praying and wishing him well.
“He’s come round on a good path, we’re all wishing him well, and that win today was for him.”
His manager followed suit in the post-match press conference, saying, “Since the beginning of our preparations ‘T’ was on our minds due to the seriousness of the situation, and the boys really wanted to do it for him.
“That was our final words, ‘let’s give it a push’. He is someone we admire, his smile is contagious and the boys did it for him. We are so proud.”
Nuno sees ‘something magical’ in final
Nuno also spoke on their chances of returning to the Champions League. “I think since the beginning of the season we wanted to be in this fight, we achieved it, the last game at the City Ground will be huge for us and we are trying to make something magical,” Nuno said.