Latest Nottingham Forest news as Vitor Pereira's Reds get set for key clash against Tottenham Hotspur
Head coach Vitor Pereira admits he has a key selection decision to make for Nottingham Forest’s huge clash with Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.
The Reds will make the trip to the capital for Sunday’s Premier League six-pointer (2.15pm) in high spirits after clinching a place in the Europa League quarter-finals in dramatic fashion. They overturned a 1-0 deficit in Denmark against FC Midtjylland to win 2-1 on the night and triumph 3-0 on penalties.
Stefan Ortega got the nod in goal for the second leg of the last 16 tie having recovered from injury. With the winter window signing and Matz Sels both now fit, there is a decision to be made over who starts between the posts.
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“Stefan plays at a very good level. Sels plays at a very good level. And I have a good headache to decide,” Pereira quipped.
“They have quality. If I play with one, they have some skills; the other one has different skills. But they are very good goalkeepers and I can trust in both.”
Pereira fielded a mostly second-string XI in Denmark, but did turn to some of his big-hitters from off the bench. He wants Forest to use the momentum from Thursday night going into Sunday’s showdown as attention switches back to the fight for survival.
“It is very important,” said the Portuguese. “The energy of a win is different and creates the confidence we need to have.
“Since the first day, I said we have a lot of talent, we just need to be consistent in our game. In this moment, we don’t just have 11 players, we have a lot of options. That is important in this moment. They have a confidence, and with the team spirit and mentality they can help the team in this moment.
“I tell you, I really believe that on Sunday we will go there with the right mentality and the physical conditions to play our game. Tactically, we will prepare the game and we will have the energy we need to compete for the three points. I don’t care if we are playing at home or away. No, it is XI against XI on the pitch and a chance for us to prove we have quality. That is what happened on Thursday.”