Nottinghamshire

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Chelsea (kick-off 16:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Nuno confirmed that Murillo is still being assessed after injuring his ankle at West Ham and has not been able to train. The Forest boss did not share nay other team news.

• On the latest with Taiwo Awoniyi after his serious injury and surgery: "He is much better. Already been able to walk. Doctor informed us [Awoniyi] is starting his normal life in of eating his food, so he is doing much better."

• On whether the forward would be at the ground on Sunday: "In the game, he is not going to be with us - it was a big issue. It is in our mind and we want him to be healthy again. So it is going to be a game for Taiwo, for the fans, for the city, for everybody."

• Despite the pressure on the game, Nuno insisted this has been a "normal week" for the team: "Nothing changes. One thing we are enjoying is preparing for a big match, so why not enjoy it? Everyone is enjoying it here."

• On his message to the players before the game: "In a game like this, with motivation you just don't have to worry about that. It is already there. Players are on fire to play the game so the message is to stick to the task. Recognise it is a tough team to play against and enjoy and play the game like we always do."

• After Morgan Gibbs-White's call-up to the England squad, Nuno said he was "proud" of the midfielder and fielded questions on the midfielder's future: "No, I'm only concerned about his performance on Sunday. This is what we think. In his mind, the only thought is to compete and help the team on Sunday."

• On reports linking Nuno with the Roma job: "Do you really think I'm going to waste time on that? So much to think and get ready - my main focus is preparing the team, getting best solutions and details for players. Nothing else."

• On how much home will help against Chelsea: "The City Ground will help us. They have been doing so since the start of the season and last season, helping us a lot. Hopefully, it stays an enjoyable day for everyone. Chelsea are a good team, with good players and talented squad. It is a decisive game for everyone."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of Nottingham Forest v Chelsea from 16:00 BST on Sunday on BBC Sounds

England manager Thomas Tuchel has announced his squad for the World Cup qualifier against Andorra (7 June) and friendly against Senegal (10 June).

Manchester City's Phil Foden, Newcastle's Tino Livramento and West Ham's Jarrod Bowen all miss out, but Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White and Chelsea duo Noni Madueke and Trevoh Chalobah have been selected.

Sunday's visit of Chelsea "has the potential to be a defining moment" in Nottingham Forest's history, says Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray.

"Whatever happens, whatever the outcome is, you have to applaud what Forest have done this season because it has come out of nowhere," he told BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up and Show More Football podcast.

"They are the first Premier League team to double their points tally from one season to the next.

"They have taken so many strides in one short season. The opportunity if things go right on Sunday afternoon is to open up unthought-of potential in the space of 90 minutes.

"It has the potential to be a defining moment in the club's history."

As illustrated in the graphic above, Forest know they need to win and rely on Newcastle or Aston Villa to drop points in order for them to reach the Champions League.

"It's possible because anything in football is," Fray said. "A rush of blood to the head because of tension or nerves, an early red card in a game, things can change. Everton could start to frustrate Newcastle a little bit - anything could happen.

"The reason all the predictors and the Opta Supercomputer only has Forest on a percentage chance in the low 20s to reach the Champions League is because they have a tough task to beat Chelsea and rely on Everton or a poor Manchester United to take points off those other two sides, who have had great seasons.

"Being realistic, you can see why the chances are so low. If you run the scenarios four or five times maybe, only once do Forest get into the Champions League. But it could be that once. They only need it to happen once."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Nottingham Forest are monitoring developments with Leicester City's 17-year-old English forward Lorenz Hutchinson. (Mail), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

A new episode of the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast is now available to listen to and on BBC Sounds.

BBC Radio Nottingham's David Jackson and Colin Fray discuss Forest's chances of qualifying for the Champions League before Sunday's pivotal showdown with Chelsea.

The also break down Taiwo Awoniyi's serious injury and hear from captain Ryan Yates and midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

The final day of the 2024-25 Premier League is edging closer, which means we will soon know the answer to who will make up the remaining Champions League spots.

Five teams are in contention for the final three positions and earlier on Thursday, we asked you to put in order where you thought those clubs would finish.

The results showed Chelsea and Nottingham Forest - who face each other at the City Ground - are who you believe will be the sides to miss out.

However it pans out, it is set to be an afternoon of high tension.

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

The fact that Nottingham Forest are even close to qualifying for the Champions League seems like some kind of wild dream.

Having gained promotion to the Premier League in 2022 - after a long, long absence - we have battled relegation for two seasons and, for many, a solid mid-table finish was really all we could hope for.

Similarly, we have been that close to qualifying for the Champions League for so long that it feels a) incredible that we're still here and b) incredible that we have not actually done it already.

Having won the European Cup two years in succession with Brian Clough in 1979 and 1980, and returned to continental competition with Frank Clark 30 years ago, it would mean everything to once again welcome the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona to the City Ground.

Of course, a lot has changed since those days, and for a club - hopefully - on the up, it is not make or break for us.

The team has outperformed everyone's expectations and to make the top five - in the year that the Premier League gained five places in the Champions League - would be an amazing end to an amazing season. Regardless of what happens, the past nine months will live long in the memory.

European football is already a given, having secured a place in the top seven, and competing with clubs bankrolled by petro-states and billionaires is the kind of underdog status that Forest really thrive upon. We are not dependent on Champions League football for our bank balance and renewing our ports is, in many ways, exciting enough. That said, we are not just in it for the adventure.

For the manager and the players, they have given everything this season and Sunday is a time to celebrate and know that the pressure really is on our opponents.

If we stick to our gameplan and play as we have all season, then the fans are with them no matter what.

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external

Image source, Getty Images

Each team in the race for the top five will have to keep an eye on other results, but deep down, you just want to be able to focus on your own business.

You want to be able to win your game out on the pitch, but the nature of the matches are really different. You have the head-to-head between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea. Then you have the likes of Manchester City playing away, Aston Villa playing away, you have got Newcastle playing at home against Everton, and when you are at home you are always going to be tough to play. So it is going to be a really, really nervous phase for all those teams involved.

How do I see it playing out? I am not sure I could tell you right now which way it is going to go. It just comes down to moments, and that is really cliche but a one-off game is almost like a final. As it stands, to go into the weekend knowing that you have a real chance, the fans of all the teams will be nervous, but you are one win away from being there.

As a player on the pitch, you absolutely get a sense of what is going on elsewhere, especially if you are at home.

You know what is happening, but then how does that affect your game? You could be losing, you could be up against it at one point, but then other teams start losing or drawing and you are back in the qualifying spots. How do you manage the next moments? How do you manage the last 10 to 15 minutes of the game when a result is one way or the other? Teams can score multiple goals in the blink of an eye, and desperation is one of the real causes for that. All of a sudden, when the kitchen sink is being thrown at people, anything is possible.

As a player, it can be really exciting. You want things to be going your way, but it is very hard to only focus on your game when other things matter at the same time. There is a double level of anxiety because you can control one thing but you cannot control the other, so you can't ever be comfortable.

From the outside, it is an exciting situation, but from the inside, you just hope that you are winning your game of football so you can just take all that out of it.

The 'as it stands' type days, they are some of the best days in football.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

The race for the three remaining Champions League qualification spots in the Premier League is going right down to the wire.

With one round of fixtures remaining, just three points separate Manchester City in third and Nottingham Forest in seventh.

With five teams vying for three positions, it leaves some clubs with their fate in their own hands, while others will be relying on favours to secure their place.

Newcastle United and Chelsea know that wins will guarantee them spots in Europe's elite competition in 2025-26.

And, with a two points and a 17-goal cushion, just a point but would all but guarantee City a place.

Nottingham Forest, who have spent much of the season occupying one of those top five spots, will need to beat Chelsea and hope for a slip up from teams above them, while Aston Villa will also be hoping for a bit of help from elsewhere.

It is set to be an anxious Sunday for those watching in the stadium and elsewhere.

But where do you think all five teams will finish?

Make your selection here