Nottingham Forest have been told they will need to strengthen their squad “considerably” to cope with the challenges of competing in Europe.
It is yet to be determined which continental competition the Reds will test themselves in next season. But if they end up being in the Europa or Conference League, Nigel Clough has backed his former club to be among the silverware challengers.
Securing a place in the Champions League is still a possibility for Forest, although they need other results to go their way in the remaining two rounds of matches. The point from last Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City assures them of some form of European adventure, though, and that means an important summer transfer window ahead.
Asked if the Reds would have a shot at winning the Europa League, if that is the tournament they end up in, Mansfield Town boss Clough told talkSPORT: “No reason (why not). The squad would have to be bolstered, certainly.
“When you play Thursday-Saturday, teams when they do get into Europe for the first season their league form does suffer. It (the squad) would need bolstering considerably to compete in Europe and domestically.
“Forest have had a remarkable season. If you’d said nine months ago that this team is going to reach an FA Cup semi-final and qualify for Europe with a chance of the Champions League, you would have said there would be absolutely no chance. Don’t lose sight of the progress they have made.”
Clough’s father, Brian, memorably led the Reds to two European Cups during his illustrious tenure on the banks of the Trent. But it has been three decades since Forest were last in Europe, when they qualified for the Uefa Cup under Frank Clark in 1995.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have suffered a dip in form in recent weeks, which has dealt a blow to their Champions League hopes. But having been in relegation battles for the previous two seasons since being promoted, Clough is under no illusion about the progress made at the City Ground.
“I think they are realistic, Forest fans. They know the progress they have made this season,” said the Reds great. “If they don’t make it (to the Champions League), they don’t make it and they will go again next season.
“They’ve got the nucleus of a squad now that could get in the top six. But of course everybody will improve next season.
“The result at Crystal Palace (a 1-1 draw) was a good one. Palace are going incredible well at the moment.
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“They would have expected to beat Leicester on Sunday but it is just evening out over the course of 36 games now. They have won 18 out of 36 games; it’s an incredible run.
“Over the course of a season you will have your ups and downs and have these incredible long runs, which they had in the first half of the season. It is just evening out a little bit now.
“Being in Europe will bring back so many memories for everybody, those who were alive so many years ago. The support, even generational now, comes from those heady days of success in the late 70s.
“It will be lovely for the new generation to experience those European nights. They are in Europe now anyway, it’s just which competition. If they could actually make the Champions League, that would be beyond everybody’s dreams.”
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