Nottingham Forest Eye Europa League Run As Yates Urges Grasp Of Opportunitynewsline24

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Ryan Yates insists Nottingham Forest still have a major chance to shape a positive season, with a Europa League last-16 tie against Midtjylland offering a route to momentum despite Premier League struggles and a recent dip in results under head coach Vitor Pereira.

Forest reached the knockout rounds by finishing 13th in the Europa League league phase, then overcoming Fenerbahce 4-2 on aggregate in a tight two-legged play-off. That progress contrasts with domestic worries, as Forest sit 17th in the Premier League, just one point clear of the relegation places.

Opta’s supercomputer gives Nottingham Forest a 58% chance of advancing to the Europa League quarter-finals, reflecting strong European pedigree. Forest own a 65% win rate in first legs of major European knockout ties, winning 15 of 23 such games, drawing three and losing five before facing Midtjylland again.

Midtjylland arrive in the Europa League tie with a strong recent record in European competition, winning 11 of the last 13 matches, including qualifiers. The only setbacks in that spell are one draw and one defeat, both coming away from home, which offers Forest some encouragement at the City Ground.

The Danish side also tend to perform well against English opposition. They have claimed four victories in nine European meetings with clubs from England, drawing two and losing three. Those wins are spread across Manchester City, Southampton, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, underlining Midtjylland’s comfort in these fixtures.

Yates is aware that Midtjylland already beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 at the City Ground in the Europa League league phase in October, when Ange Postecoglou led the team. The midfielder expects a demanding contest and said: “Midtjylland are a very strong team from set-pieces, and we’re under no illusions we need to be at our best physically and mentally,” Yates told reporters. “We take a lot of learning from that night [in the league phase], and hopefully we can put that into place. We have an incredible opportunity to still have a positive season. We have to take these opportunities when they come.”

Pereira took charge of Nottingham Forest in February after replacing Sean Dyche and has experienced mixed early results. Forest have won one, drawn one and lost three of the first five matches under Pereira, though the most recent performance brought a spirited draw after twice coming from behind at Manchester City.

The head coach stressed that Nottingham Forest will not treat the Europa League as a distraction from the domestic battle. Pereira said: “I will try to do my best, try to keep the team competitive in both games. We have quality. It is just a matter of connecting them, organising them and giving them confidence to perform and be themselves. For now, we will try to be competitive in bothtry to get points and get results in the Europa League and in the Premier League.”

With Premier League survival still uncertain and Midtjylland posing a serious Europa League obstacle, Forest approach Thursday’s first leg knowing both competitions could define the campaign. A strong showing at the City Ground would support European ambition and also build belief for the demanding domestic schedule ahead.

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