Relegation battles to European glory: Can Nottingham Forest script a sensational end to their season?

Nottingham Forest have reached a European semi-final for the first time in forty-two years. (Image credits – FMT, licence details)

Nottingham Forest are living in a situation straight out of fiction, and there is even a possibility of them playing in the Champions League next season while being in the Championship: the second division of English football. The Tricky Trees are 16th in the table, three points above safety. At the same time, they are also at the brink of qualifying for a European final. While they've been poor in the domestic competitions this season, their performance in the Europa League has been contradictory.

Forest’s run to the semi-final of the Europa League has been extraordinary for a club that's going through a turbulent period of time. The club has seen three managers getting sacked this season, and in the league phase they were far from their best. However, they've ground out important results that have taken them to this place. They are set to face Unai Emery’s Aston Villa in the semi-final, which is set to be extremely difficult, as the Spaniard is one of the most successful coaches in this competition, having won this tournament with Sevilla and Villarreal.

They secured a historic 1-0 win over Porto in the quarter-finals at the City Ground to reach their first European semi-final since 1984. Vitor Pereira’s side wasn't the favourite heading into this tie, but Jan Bednarek’s red card in the eighth minute changed the course of the game. Morgan Gibbs-White scored the only goal of the game that sealed their clash against Villa. Porto came close on two occasions when they hit the post in the second half, but with a man down they couldn't trouble Stefan Ortega much between the sticks. If Nottingham qualify for the final in Istanbul, they'll face the winners of the other semi-final clash between Braga and Freiburg.

A win in Istanbul would not only add European silverware to their trophy cabinet but also secure their spot in the Champions League next season. However, despite keeping European dreams in mind, the Tricky Trees will face crucial fixtures against Burnley and Sunderland in the Premier League to avoid a possible relegation. In case they are relegated and win the Europa League, they'll compete in the second division, the Championship, and the Champions League at the same time, which has never happened before in the history of the competition.

Winning the Europa League and surviving in the Premier League would be the ideal goal for Vitor Pereira's side this season. With only a few games to go, they will head into the most crucial phase of their campaign this year, as any slip-up from now on could prove to be very costly. Forest would be keen on qualifying for the Champions League, as they narrowly missed out last season after finishing in seventh position on the last matchday. They spent £180m on new signings, but due to managerial chaos, they have spent the whole season in chaos.

Survival or dreams: What should be the priority for Nottingham Forest?

The bottom half of the Premier League is a battlefield right now, and Nottingham Forest are right in the middle of it alongside West Ham, Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur. Each of these sides didn't expect to be in this position right now but has found itself here after a disastrous campaign in the league. For Forest, it is not just about competing in the Europa League but also managing the demanding toll of being in a relegation battle.

The squad’s fatigue is something that'll give a headache to the manager. Competing in two competitions at the same time will require rotating players while maintaining the performance level of the team. So far, Nottingham Forest have been able to showcase that resilience, but it'll only get trickier as the season nears its end. Had they been in a better position in the league, they could've prioritised the UEL, but since both are at stake, they've no other option than prioritising both at the same time.

There is also an added pressure on the players, as if they bring the European silverware home, they'll always be remembered in the history of the club. European glory always brings pride amongst the fanbase, and for a club that has reached this stage after forty-two years, it could be a huge moment for the fans. Two games will decide their future in the competition, and the stakes couldn't get any better than this. This situation showcases the unpredictable nature of the sport; a team struggling in the relegation battle finds itself in a European semi-final and might possibly win the competition, which would be nothing short of a fairytale finish.

The way they ground out a point against Aston Villa last week and the victory against Porto in the quarter-final showcased the players' willingness to deliver on both fronts for the club. If they can showcase the same resilience and spirit and grind out points in the league, it would add huge confidence for their semifinal clash against Aston Villa. Their upcoming games against Burnley and Sunderland in the league will be extremely crucial in this campaign.

“The club said to me the priority is to keep the club in the Premier League. I agree for the supporters, for everybody, for the club, for everybody. It's a disaster if we go to the Championship,” said Forest boss Vitor Pereira following the win in Portugal. (sic)

"We are competing with West Ham, Tottenham and Leeds, and it's not easy to compete with these kinds of clubs. If we are not in the Premier League, it will be a disaster, and this is a disaster I don't want to have responsibility for.” (sic)

He further added, 'Of course, I want to win [the Europa League]. I had it as an assistant coach. We won the Europa League [with Porto in 2011], but I want to win it as a head coach. I want to keep my club in the Premier League and to fight to achieve the final.” (sic)