Football
Exclusive: Forest Icon Martin O’Neill Backs Nottingham Forest to Secure Champions League Spot
Former Nottingham Forest player and coach, Martin O'Neill, is confident in the club's chances of securing a Champions League spot this season. With a strong defensive line and goal-scoring striker Chris Wood, Forest is aiming for success in both the Premier League and the FA Cup. O'Neill praises the team's new generation of players and fans, creating a positive buzz at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest v Bolton Wanderers - Sky Bet Championship by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport | Getty Images
Nottingham Forest legend Martin O’Neill would love it if his former club secured Champions League football this season.
The two-time European Cup winner hopes Nuno Espirito Santo’s ambitious side can finish the season in style and secure one of the five coveted Champions League places.
Forest are flying high in fourth spot in the Premier League, three points ahead of sixth-place Chelsea with just five league fixtures remaining.
And this Sunday (27 April) they have the chance to reach the FA Cup final when they clash with Manchester City at the City Ground as they continue their quest for a first trophy since 1959.
Forest last got to the FA Cup final in 1991 and will be looking to upset seven-time winners City at Wembley (4.30pm).
“When you think earlier in the season people were talking about the UEFA Cup, but the way things are going then Champions League football is a real possibility,” revealed O’Neill, speaking exclusively to SportsBoom.com.
“When you consider the frailty of Manchester City and also the fact you didn’t expect other football clubs like Manchester United and Tottenham to be in the position they’re in, well it could be the year. It would be their best opportunity of getting into Champions League football."
“Even to mention that all, even as a possibility this season, only goes to indicate what an amazing season they’ve had so far."
“Obviously there’s a new generation of supporters, that happens, and our success with the club was a long, long time ago."
“But our success, which was phenomenal under a fantastic manager [Brian Clough] is still the benchmark Nottingham Forest have to get too."
“However, what you are getting now is a team that the younger generation are identifying with, which is great."
“And I think the team might be identifying with the fans as well, so you may now have a new generation of supporters being told by their grandfathers and fathers ‘oh, times were great in our day’ or something like that."
“That’s all goods news for the City Ground. There’s a great old buzz about the place, which is obviously good for the fans to see.”
RAFT OF TROPHIES AT CITY GROUND
Former Republic of Ireland boss O’Neill, 73, won a raft of trophies during a distinguished career in the game, including most notably a memorable treble as boss of Celtic and also as a player.
He won the First Division title with Forest in 1977-78, the League Cup twice in his time with the club, as well as the European Super Cup, Anglo-Scottish Cup and FA Charity Shield to alongside his famous two European Cup winning medals.
The former midfielder believes Forest’s improved defence, added to star striker Chris Wood’s goals up front, have been key ingredients to the club’s welcome success this season.
“They have tightened up defensively this season, which has been a big help,” added O’Neill.
“They are a counter-attacking team and you would have to say that all along the back four, they’ve definitely got a bit of something about themselves."
“The lads they’ve brought in have been great. The boy Murillo is strong and Morato as well."
“The nice thing about it, and it seems this way, is that they genuinely want to defend."
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.