Alious**Nottingham Forest’s European Dream Takes Shape Under Nuno Espirito Santo**
The 2024/25 season has been a revelation for Nottingham Forest, with Nuno Espirito Santo leading the club to heights that have supporters daring to dream of Champions League football.
A Remarkable Turnaround
While a top-four or top-five finish may still be ambitious, Forest’s current form makes European qualification feel more like a probability than a possibility.
Sitting on 37 points from 19 games, they’ve faced every Premier League team once and have proven themselves as serious contenders.
Pundits have been forced to revise their opinions. Robbie Earle, who initially predicted relegation for Forest, has admitted he got it wrong. Jamie Redknapp has also praised Espirito Santo for reigniting his managerial reputation.
Gary Lineker Praises Forest Stars
Gary Lineker, a longtime critic of Forest, has undergone a transformation himself.
After admitting he underestimated the Reds, he recently heaped praise on three key players: Anthony Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
“I’ve owned up to my mistake,” said Lineker during a Premier League mid-season review. “Elanga has excelled on the right, Gibbs-White is sensational, and Hudson-Odoi has contributed in critical moments. They’re hardworking and solid all around.”
Forest’s Squad Depth Highlighted
The evolution of Forest’s squad depth has been staggering.
Comparing their substitutes bench against Newcastle in August 2022 to their options against Everton in December 2024 shows just how far the team has progressed:
Forest Bench (August 2022)
– Wayne Hennessey
– Giulian Biancone
– Loic Mbe Soh
– Orel Mangala
– Cafu
– Oli Hammond
– Taiwo Awoniyi
– Alex Mighten
– Lyle Taylor
Forest Bench (December 2024)
– Carlos Miguel
– Zach Abbott
– Eric da Silva Moreira
– Willy Boly
– Harry Toffolo
– James Ward-Prowse
– Jota Silva
This transformation speaks volumes about the club’s investment and recruitment strategy, which has brought in top talents like Gibbs-White, who arrived for an initial £25 million and is now thriving with five goal contributions in December alone.
Stars of the Season
Elanga and Hudson-Odoi have proved to be shrewd acquisitions. Despite being rotated at times, both players have made significant impacts.
Elanga, in particular, earned December’s Player of the Month award after netting crucial goals against Aston Villa, Brentford, and Tottenham.
Looking Ahead
As Forest continue their remarkable campaign, they’ve become the envy of many Premier League rivals.
With a solid squad, dynamic attackers, and a rejuvenated manager at the helm, Nottingham Forest’s European dream no longer seems far-fetched.
Alious
