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Nottingham Forest ban Gary Neville from commentating on Chelsea decider

BANNED: Nottingham Forest have banned Gary Neville from commentating on their crucial final game of the season against Chelsea on Sunday. Pic: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

Nottingham Forest have banned Gary Neville from commentating on their crucial final game of the season against Chelsea on Sunday.

Neville recently criticised Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis for coming onto the pitch and exchanging words with manager Nuno Espirito Santo following the recent draw with Leicester City.

Forest have decided Neville won't be granted access into the City Ground for Sky Sports' coverage of the clash which is decisive for both teams' chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season.

"I was contacted by Sky Sports earlier on in the week and told that I would be commentating at the City Ground on Sunday for the Nottingham Forest v Chelsea match," Neville posted on Instagram.

"I was informed yesterday by Sky Sports that Nottingham Forest would not give me an accreditation or access to the stadium as a co-commentator. I’ve had no choice but to withdraw from the coverage.

"I’ve dished out my fair share of criticism and praise in the last 14 years of doing this job and have never come close to this unprecedented action.

"Personally, I think it’s disappointing that a great club like Nottingham Forest have been reduced to making such a decision. Whilst they have every right to choose who they let into their own stadium, it’s symptomatic of things that have happened over the last 12 months with the club.

"I wish the coaching staff, players and fans of the club all the best in their quest to achieve Champions League football."

Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo said his side will be playing for Taiwo Awoniyi as they bid to seal Champions League football.

If Forest beat top-five rivals Chelsea at the City Ground in their final Premier League game of the season and both Newcastle and Aston Villa fail to win, Nuno's side will qualify for Europe's premier competition. All 10 of the final Premier League fixtures kick off at 4pm on Sunday afternoon.

Striker Awoniyi sustained a serious abdominal injury when colliding with a post in Forest's recent home draw against Leicester and is recovering after being placed in an induced coma following surgery.

Forest's players wore t-shirts with Awoniyi's name and number on the back during the warm-up before last week's win at West Ham and Morgan Gibbs-White kissed a shirt bearing the Nigerian's name after scoring.

Nuno said: "It's going to be for Taiwo. He's not going to be with us. It was a big issue what happened to him and it's in our minds.

"We want to see him totally healthy, enjoying the group, so it's going to be for Taiwo again. For him, for us, for the fans, for the city, for everybody. But we will just play the game."

Nuno said he would not be keeping a close eye on the Newcastle and Villa games.

"No. We are playing the game. I'll be focused on the tasks on the side of the pitch," he said.

"We have to focus on what's happening. It's the only way to achieve things. Ignore what's outside and focus on your tasks."

Chelsea also have next Wednesday’s Conference League final against Real Betis in Wroclaw on the horizon, but there is no mistaking which is the bigger game for the Blues. Only a win will do for Enzo Maresca’s side too, with Villa ready to take advantage of any slip when they visit a dejected Manchester United.

Despite there being so many permutations in the race for a Champions League place, Villa boss Unai Emery also insisted he would not be keeping tabs on any other games.

"In our hands is only our result on Sunday, how we can respond and how we can perform against Manchester United," the Spaniard said.

"That's the only issue I want to focus on with the players. I don't want to know other results.

"I want only to play our match, only to focus on our match in 90 minutes and try to focus the dressing room on the first half on everything tactically and individually.

"We will not focus on other results. We must win, we must compete and we must get our result. We must respect Manchester United. That's the only way I want to focus on Sunday."

Emery spoke of his pride regardless of where his side finish. "I am so, so proud of our club, our supporters, our players, the workers and employees.

"To be proud of everything 100 per cent, and we still have the match on Sunday. If we are getting the better gift on Sunday to play Champions League, it will be more."

Eddie Howe knows victory at home against Everton will book them a second trip to Europe's top table in three seasons. He hopes to have striker Alexander Isak fit and wants a raucous St James' Park atmosphere to drag his team over the line. The club is offering two free pints to supporters ahead of kick-off - on another significant day in its development.

Asked what Champions League qualification would mean, Howe said: "Everyone talks about finances and I understand why because that is important.

"But for us, it's about wanting to play against the best teams in the best competition. To try to win those competitions, that is why you are competing in them."

Manchester City’s goal difference means a draw at Fulham should guarantee a top-five finish but Pep Guardiola is convinced the push for Champions League qualification will go to the “95th minute”.

“I knew this already, that it will be the last moment, when 95 minutes are up it will be decided if we will play in the Champions League. And I’m not wrong. So I know we have to arrive at the end, the last corner, and we have to be ready.”