- Nuno Espirito Santo will have a choice to make for the FA Cup semi-final.
- The manager of Nottingham Forest has to determine whether he should put his key players on the substitutes' bench once more.
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Nuno Espirito Santo has developed a tendency to look everywhere except at the pitch when Nottingham Forest proceed to penalties. Based on this year’s FA Cup , his worries are becoming increasingly unfounded with each passing day.
Following three consecutive shootout victories, Forest have secured their place in the semi-finals, a position that aligns well with their current ranking. Premier League .
However, there is another aspect of this operation that could benefit from examination. This pertains to Nuno’s distribution of resources across various contests, considering the possibility of appearing foolish due to inconsistency. Brighton did not bounce off the great wall of Matz Sels.
With Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga reduced to bench roles, Wayne Rooney He was not alone in doubting the wisdom of the decision. In his commentary, he stated: 'I am astonished. The FA Cup is such an esteemed competition, offering a significant chance to reach the semifinals. Were I a supporter, I'd be furious.'
Outcomes tend to alleviate such worries; however, after the match, Nuno stood by his choice, stating that the cup fixtures serve as 'a reward for players who haven’t seen much playing time in the Premier League'.
Even with Champions League qualifying for the cup means this position might come under scrutiny during Forest’s first FA Cup semi-final since 1991; however, Nuno remained vague when questioned about whether it would change at Wembley, as they prepare to face their opponents. Manchester City .
Ryan Yates’s ban for that match due to his yellow card against Brighton should help alleviate some of the decision-making pressure, even though it means losing a captain who scored the decisive penalty. The fact that Yates stepped up when needed can be attributed to two crucial saves made by Sels during the shootout, building upon the several saves he had already managed in the earlier stages of the competition.
He currently leads the league for clean sheets in the 2024-25 season, which gives him a solid case as the top goalkeeper this year. Additionally, his £5 million transfer from about 14 months back seems like an increasingly good deal. At 33 years old, the Belgian explained: "In recent weeks, our focus during practice sessions shifted towards penalty saves. Training conditions naturally differ quite a bit compared to actual matches where there’s much higher pressure. Still, I'm pleased with my ability to assist the squad and manage to stop those two penalties."
'It has been several years since the fans last witnessed a semi-final match, so our team will eagerly anticipate this one. We hope to make an even bigger impact when we get there.'
Anxiously, Forest will wait for the comeback of Chris Wood, who was not present following a hip injury he sustained while playing for New Zealand internationally.
Nuno mentioned that his situation isn’t good. He further stated, “We'll just have to wait and see. It will be one day at a time; we must monitor him closely. The main focus is on the pain he endures.”
'It had a significant effect on his hip, causing considerable pain. We need to examine him.'
We are heartbroken that Chris wasn’t here with us.
Forest will face Manchester United in the Premier League on Tuesday, but when questioned about whether Wood would be available, Nuno stated: "I can't address that. I'm unsure, I don't have an answer. We'll just have to see day by day."
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