Alious Ange Postecoglou hails “special” Nottingham Forest European comeback ahead of Real Betis clash
Nottingham Forest are set for an emotional night in Seville on Wednesday when they finally return to European football after almost 30 years away. Their Europa League opener against Real Betis marks the club’s first continental fixture since a UEFA Cup quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich in March 1996, ending a 10,781-day absence from the stage where they once reigned supreme as two-time European Cup winners.
New manager Ange Postecoglou admitted the occasion carries immense significance, both for the players and the generations of fans who have only heard of Forest’s glory days but never experienced them. “Thirty years is a long time. This club has reached the very top of European football before, and now supporters can live new memories of their own,” he said, describing the night as “special” and one that has stirred excitement throughout the club.
Forest enter the competition among the bookmakers’ outsiders for glory, yet Postecoglou knows the terrain well. Only 18 weeks ago, he lifted the Europa League trophy with Tottenham, and he confessed that managing in Europe again was one of the biggest attractions of joining Forest. “I love these occasions. They challenge coaches and players in different ways, and the memories last a lifetime,” he said with a smile.
The Reds will be backed by 3,385 travelling fans inside Seville’s La Cartuja, with many more ticketless supporters expected to make the journey. It’s a moment to savour for a club that languished at the bottom of the Championship just four years ago. Postecoglou called the turnaround “amazing,” saying it embodies what football should always be about: dreams, resilience, and the chance to rise to the very top.
Forest earned their Europa League berth after finishing seventh in the Premier League last season. Due to Crystal Palace’s breach of UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, Forest were promoted into Europe’s secondary competition, allowing “Angeball” to return to continental football.
Postecoglou hinted he may need to tweak his tactics to navigate the challenges of the competition, but he insisted his winning mentality won’t change. “I’m not built to be pragmatic. What I love most is winning, and we’ll do whatever it takes. There are times you need to adapt, but the goal remains the same: to win every game.”
Alious
