Nottingham Forest have been told to capitalise on what is sure to be a raucous City Ground atmosphere in their crunch final-day showdown with Chelsea.
The Reds are already guaranteed some form of European football next term but it is still to be determined in which competition. With one more game to go, making it to the Champions League is not yet out of the question for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
They welcome fellow top-five chasers the Blues Trentside on Sunday (4pm kick-off) for what could potentially be a decisive clash. Pundit Simon Jordan has backed the home crowd to do their bit and make it difficult for the visitors, although he is not entirely convinced about Forest’s chances of qualifying for Europe’s elite club tournament.
Asked whether it is set up for a shootout between the Reds and Chelsea in the fight for the Champions League spots, Jordan said on talkSPORT: “I think so. I wouldn't be betting on Man City to take anything more than four points out of their two games, and that puts them on 69 points that achieves something for them. But I would pick them to win one of those games and possibly lose one, so it puts them on 68 points.
“I think Chelsea and Forest is a fabulous game. You cannot want for a game at the end of the season where you go right up to the last game
“We will have all written Nottingham Forest off and the Nottingham Forest fans would have listened repeatedly and endlessly to people in studios like this constantly saying ‘They're going to fall off, they're going to fall off, they're going to fall off’.
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“It will be interesting to see how Chelsea react to it because Chelsea, over three years now of this (Todd) Boehly project, somewhere along the line, despite all the defence I give them, they do have to deliver an outcome. The first outcome they've got to deliver is get in the Champions League this season.
“This young Chelsea side is being built with players like Romeo Lavia and Noni Madueke and Moises Caicedo and obviously Cole Palmer, that are going to be top stars at Chelsea as that team builds, (they) are going to have to stand up to the City Ground atmosphere.
“I'm not suggesting the City Ground atmosphere is any more intimidating than some of the other big clubs in the league, but it is a fabulous atmosphere, it is a fabulous fanbase, and it will be absolutely at it, on it and across it on that game on the weekend. My gut feeling is that Chelsea get something out of that game.
“Now I'm not suggesting a win, but I think they get something out of that game. If they get something out of that game, then they will be in the Champions League spot, which is what I tipped them to be in at the beginning of the season.”
Seventh-placed Forest are currently on 65 points, one point below Newcastle United, Chelsea and Aston Villa. Manchester City are also on 65 points but have a game in hand to come this evening (Tuesday) when they host Bournemouth.
It means the Reds’ Champions League dream is not entirely in their own hands as they need other results to go their way. For that reason, former defender Martin Keown is pessimistic about their chances.
“I think Forest won't make it, to be honest,” he said during talkSPORT’s discussion. “I'm looking at City now and I think ‘Well, do you really want to be going to Bournemouth, well it’s Bournemouth at home, after not getting something at Southampton last time round, just a draw?’
“And then you're playing Fulham, who look how well they played against Brentford (a 3-2 win), and they will just be signing off a really good season for them. So these are two very difficult games, and City find themselves just outside of qualification right now, it's down to them now. A big game coming up for Man City against Bournemouth.
“I'm not sure Forest will have a chance (on the final day) because if Man City can win that game and Aston Villa win theirs. Villa their last two games of the season have been Spurs and Manchester United they're almost gimmes.
“Man United by then might have a very successful trophy (in the Europa League) and be in the Champions League the next season. Somehow I think Villa will win that. They look really good at the end of the season.”
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