‘Enjoy it’ message sent as Nottingham Forest star man makes plea for Champions League help
Goalkeeper Matz Sels has urged Nottingham Forest fans not to lose faith as the battle for Champions League football threatens to go right to the wire.
Securing the top-five finish required for qualification to Europe’s elite club competition remains in the Reds’ own hands. But they suffered a setback as Saturday’s 1-0 reverse at home to Everton made it successive Premier League defeats for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
Forest have a week to stew on a disappointing result and performance before they take on Tottenham Hotspur in the capital next Monday (8pm kick-off). Reds supporters have helped the team over the line in many games this season, and Sels has stressed their backing will be as crucial as ever in the remaining weeks of the campaign.
“I think we gave already a lot to the fans. Now everybody’s expecting big things, but we need to enjoy together with the fans,” the Belgian said after the final whistle at the City Ground.
“This is football. We will need them again; we need their support.
“We need the help of the supporters until the end of the season, and we have already (had their help) to be in this position. It’s already amazing. We need to enjoy and try to do everything possible to finish as high as possible in the league.”
It was a real off-day for the hosts on the banks of the Trent against the Toffees. Despite their lacklustre display, they had looked on course to at least come away with a point until Abdoulaye Doucoure netted a 94th minute winner.
Sels is prepared for “six finals”, plus an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, over the next few weeks as the season reaches its climax. Although aware of the pressure which comes with the territory when the stakes are so high, the 33-year-old is determined to revel in competing for such glittering prizes.
“We need to keep going. Six games to go; six big games. And then we will see where we can finish because now everybody’s focused,” Sels said.
“We will see where we will be in the end. Until now, it has already been an amazing season so we need to enjoy it also.
“I know there is pressure now because the season is coming to an end, but still everything is possible for us. We must do everything.
“Every game is so difficult. We can say on paper, we need to win this game, this game, this game. But it’s football and every game in the Premier League is difficult.
“I can tell you now, because I have played quite a lot of games, there are no easy games. Six finals to play and still everything is possible, so we need to put our heads up and go for the next one.”
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