Stefan Ortega helped Nottingham Forest claim a famous win over FC Midtjylland and reach the quarter-final of the Europa League.
The German goalkeeper returned to action after a recent injury lay-off and produced a competent display as Forest won 3-0 on penalties to reach the next stage of the competition.
Sum up our 3-0 penalty shootout victory in one word! Forest are through to the Europa League quarter-final!!!
Ortega wasn’t required to save a penalty, with the first two Midtjylland efforts smacking the post and the third one being fluffed over the bar.
Still, it was great to see the player back in action, and after the match, he offered an insight into how the dressing room was feeling.
Nottingham Forest star Ryan Yates
Photo by Patrik Lundin/Getty Images
Stefan Ortega says Nottingham Forest players are tired
Ortega could do nothing to stop Martin Erlic levelling the tie up in the second half, but he coped very well with everything thrown at him during the match.
The experienced goalkeeper was a surprise signing from Manchester City in the January transfer window, and he’s looked the part since signing, with his distribution a big attribute that Forest can count on.
After the game, he lifted the lid on what the dressing room’s emotion was, and it won’t come as a surprise that there are some tired legs.
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He said in his press interview with TNT Sports: “As you can imagine, we’re buzzing, really happy, but we’re also really tired too because that was a very tough game tonight against a good team. But, yes, we’re so happy!”
Ortega will now ask the question of Vitor Pereira ahead of Sunday’s game with Tottenham.
Who was your Man of the Match from the second leg win over FC Midtjylland?
It’s about as close to a relegation six-pointer as you will ever see this weekend and Pereira will have to see who is available to play in North London.
Matz Sels has been the club’s number one stopper for so long but now with Ortega looking like a very capable pair of hands, it would be a brave man to tell him he’s dropped for such a huge game.
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