What should have been a victory lap for Nottingham Forest has quickly turned into a nerve-wracking finale.
With European qualification already secured, fans were starting to believe in the impossible—Champions League football.
But after a frustrating 2-2 draw with already-relegated Leicester City, those dreams are dangling by a thread.
Forest, who were riding high in the top five for most of the season, now find themselves sitting in seventh.
With just two games left to play, they’ve taken only one point from their last three home matches, and the pressure is clearly showing.
Gibbs-White Admits the Squad Felt the Heat
Morgan Gibbs-White, one of Forest’s standout performers this season and reportedly on Manchester City’s radar, didn’t shy away from being honest after the game.
“We started strong and put ourselves in a great position, but the last few games haven’t met our standards,” he said.
“Yes, it’s amazing to secure European football, but we were pushing for even more. A Champions League spot felt within reach.”
Gibbs-White acknowledged that neither he nor many of his teammates had ever been in such a high-stakes run-in before.
“At first, we handled it pretty well, but as the pressure built, we started to lose our grip. That’s the reality.”
Still Fighting, Still Growing
Despite the disappointment, the midfielder is determined to finish strong.
Forest’s last two fixtures—against West Ham and Chelsea—could still be pivotal.
Two wins might just be enough to salvage their top-four ambitions, depending on how other results fall.
“We’re still in the fight, still learning and growing together as a team and as a club,” said Gibbs-White.
“It’s been a really demanding season, both physically and mentally, especially because we’ve set such high standards for ourselves.”
No Excuses for Costly Mistakes
The 2-2 result against Leicester wasn’t just a missed opportunity—it was a source of frustration.
Forest let in goals they simply shouldn’t have, and Gibbs-White didn’t hide from that reality.
“We can’t defend like we did today. There’s no excuse,” he said.
“Whether it’s fatigue or something else, we can’t lean on that. The fans show up for us, and they deserve better.”
With their Champions League hopes hanging in the balance, Forest have two final chances to get it right.
And if Gibbs-White’s words are anything to go by, the squad knows exactly what’s at stake.