Nottingham Forest edging closer to their 2024/25 ambitions
Nottingham Forest are steadily closing in on their objectives for the 2024/25 season.
In recent months, those ambitions have evolved—from simply aiming for any form of European football to seriously believing a Champions League spot is within reach.
The Reds remain in third place in the Premier League and have held that position since their 2-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park back in December.
Premier League Table (Top 5):
3. Nottingham Forest – P31, W17, D6, L8, GD+14, Pts 57
Under Nuno Espirito Santo, Forest have adopted a style that plays to the squad’s strengths, and the manager deserves significant credit for their remarkable consistency this season.
While there’s still work to be done, pundits have started to weigh in on the race for Champions League spots.
Joe Cole backs Forest to stay in top four
After Craig Bellamy’s bold prediction earlier this week, former England midfielder Joe Cole has also made his pick—backing Forest to remain in the Champions League positions.
Cole, who recently visited Forest’s training ground as part of TNT Sports coverage, was clearly impressed by the team spirit and mentality. Following their 1-0 win over Manchester City, he praised the squad and predicted they’ll hold onto their spot.
Speaking on The Dressing Room Podcast, he said:
> “We were there and the lads made us feel welcome—it’s a winning mentality. They’re on it, mate.
I’m going Nottingham Forest third, Manchester City fourth.
I’m worried about Chelsea, but it’s tough, isn’t it? I picked City just on name. It’s a coin toss, really.”
Fellow pundit Steve Sidwell added:
> “They’ve got points on the board and when you see the dressing room celebrations after their wins, you can feel that togetherness—it really makes a difference.”
Staying the course toward the Champions League
Forest are on the brink of completing a remarkable turnaround—from fighting relegation to pushing for the Champions League within a year.
While it may not quite match the fairytale of Leicester’s title-winning campaign, it would still be an incredible achievement in modern football.
With a favourable run-in and momentum on their side, Forest just need to continue doing what they’ve done best this season. Falling out of the top five at this stage would be a major disappointment, but if they can hold their nerve, an extraordinary finish awaits.
