Chelsea secure top-five spot to end Nottingham Forest’s Champions League dream

Before kick-off, a giant banner dangled from the upper tier of the Trent End. It was an oversized brown tourist sign. “Destination: Europe,” it read. Below that, a flag of a camper van with Nottingham Forest scarves flickering out of the windows. For Forest, all roads from here lead to the Europa Conference League and not the Champions League, which Chelsea will play in next season after two years away. First, however, for Enzo Maresca and Chelsea, is a trip to Wroclaw, a final against Real Betis, in the competition Forest will grace for the first time next season.For Forest, it was impossible to avoid the sense of anticlimax, despite returning to Europe for the first time since reaching the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup under Frank Clark in 1995-96. In the end, the biggest boost of the day probably arrived 15 minutes before kick-off, when Taiwo Awoniyi emerged from the tunnel. The striker, who required urgent abdominal surgery and was placed in an induced coma after colliding with a post here against Leicester, was given a hero’s welcome after walking on to the pitch tapping his chest and applauding all four sides of this stadium. Continue reading...

Comments

Football news

Gary Lineker tears up as he bids emotional farewell to iconic Match of the Day after controversial BBC axe

The Sun

Comments

Similar News

Chelsea ratings: Colwill gets perfect revenge on Forest but Sancho performance won’t convince Blues to splash out £25m

Bonnie Blue ‘KICKED OUT of City Ground after flouting ban as adult star gets into Chelsea away end vs Nottingham Forest’

Levi Colwill SWEARS in live Sky Sports interview as Chelsea ace hits out at pundits after Champions League qualification

Enzo Maresca one step from full vindication as Chelsea owners put on united front

Enzo Maresca has two brutal words for Chelsea critics after proving doubters wrong

Maresca gives profane retort to Chelsea's critics

Premier League final day: UCL for Chelsea, Man City; Man United deny Villa

Enzo Maresca hits back at Chelsea critics after Champions League qualification: 'Eff off'

Enzo Maresca tells critics to ‘F off’ after Chelsea secure Champions League return

Nottingham Forest v Chelsea player ratings as wasteful Chris Wood leaves hosts frustrated

Levi Colwill’s goal ensures Chelsea beat Forest and return to Champions League

What Todd Boehly did after the final whistle as Chelsea clinch Champions League place

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea - PLAYER RATINGS: Which Forest star 'messed up'? Who scared the 'bejeezus out of fans'? And which Blues player produced 'a big defensive showing'?

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea: Blues confirm Champions League spot while Forest secure European place despite defeat

City, Chelsea, Newcastle make UCL; Villa miss out

Champions League return could be transformative for Chelsea and Enzo Maresca

Chelsea player ratings vs Nottingham Forest: Levi Colwill stars at both ends but Robert Sanchez upgrade needed

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea: Levi Colwill earns Blues return to Champions League on final day

Nottingham Forest 0 Chelsea 1: Blues star who got Tricky Trees promoted ruins their Champions League dream

Premier League final day LIVE RESULTS: City, Chelsea and Newcastle QUALIFY for Champions League, Villa & Forest miss out

Football news

Gary Lineker tears up as he bids emotional farewell to iconic Match of the Day after controversial BBC axe

Rio Ferdinand says Manchester United sold £75m Chelsea flop ‘too soon’

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pushing to sign Arsenal star after ‘positive’ meeting

Virgil Van Dijk and Pep Guardiola lead Gary Lineker tributes after final Match of the Day

Wimbledon captain Jake Reeves looking to secure part in club's history at Wembley

Gary Lineker wipes away tears after emotional Match of the Day tribute on BBC farewell

Arsenal on red alert as Barcelona hope to complete transfer in matter of days

Revealed: Ruben Amorim's secret trip to Monaco after Europa League final defeat that saw him commit to Man United

Match of the Day review: There was no sign of Gary Lineker's off-screen issues in another fitting performance full of class and panache - good luck to the iconic show's trio of new presenters in replicating his simple elegance

Man United agree Matheus Cunha deal as Ruben Amorim moves closer to sealing first summer transfer with Red Devils set to trigger Wolves star's £62.5m release clause

Roy Keane reveals what Man United must do to 'get back up the table' and insists 'they can't be any worse' - as Jamie Redknapp urges club to sell one superstar

Liverpool dealt early blow for title defence next season with key player set to miss MULTIPLE games after summer break

Gary Lineker's final Match of the Day show ends with SEVEN-MINUTE tribute as Alan Shearer, Alan Hansen and Ian Wright send heartfelt messages

Why Mats Knoester was happier about Dimitar Mitov's heroics than Aberdeen team mates

Spurs loanee argues Aberdeen won Scottish Cup because they wanted it more than Celtic

Sheikh Jassim and Qataris make call over renewing Man Utd interest as share price tumbles

Nuno Espirito Santo speaks out on Nottingham Forest future after Chelsea heartbreak

Sky Sports issue apology to Salah and Van Dijk during Liverpool trophy celebrations

Gary Lineker's parting shot at BBC boss as ex-England star set for final MOTD show

David Martindale on why he would 'cut the VAR cable' as Livingston boss performs U-turn on previous stance

Jordan Amissah wants Ross County to go out and prove one thing in decisive Livingston play-off

Mats Knoester reveals how Dimitar Mitov got him off the hook as Aberdeen cup hero shares Celtic penalty secret

Inside the Celtic dressing room after Scottish Cup heartache as Brendan Rodgers makes two things clear

Alan Shearer perfectly sums up Gary Lineker moments before Match of the Day exit

Gary Lineker makes trademark joke in first words on final Match of the Day episode

Ruben Amorim confirms 32-man travelling squad for £8m post-season Man Utd tour

Sky Sports host Kelly Cates apologises to Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk during trophy party

Nottingham Forest's season is a success story, not a failure... the Premier League table puts a big smile on my face, writes club legend GARRY BIRTLES

Aston Villa have every right to feel aggrieved after big mistake at Old Trafford... the referee blew his whistle too early, writes MARK CLATTENBURG

'At the end of the day, it came down to who wanted it more,' says emotional Dons hero Alfie Dorrington

Thelin blown away by Aberdeen support as Dons fans turn out in their thousands to paint the town red in wake of Scottish Cup final triumph

Mohamed Salah reveals he WAS in negotiations with Saudi clubs before extending at Liverpool - as forward also addresses Barcelona and Real Madrid links in bombshell interview

Man United squad fly straight to Malaysia for £8m post-season tour just HOURS after beating Aston Villa to end their worst-ever Premier League term

Gary Lineker's final BBC appearance: Match of the Day opens with emotional tribute as £1.4million star says 'it wasn't meant to end this way' as he says goodbye following axing

Juventus ensure Champions League action next season with victory at Venezia

Gary Lineker tells Match of the Day viewers ‘it wasn’t meant to end this way’ as he presents final show

Gary Lineker opens final Match of the Day with joke over BBC row

Man Utd confirm 32-man squad for post-season tour as Alejandro Garnacho decision made

Gary Lineker makes subtle six-word joke about BBC exit as Match of the Day changed

Roy Keane smirks live on TV before responding to Ruben Amorim’s claim that the ‘good days are coming’ for Man Utd

Fuming Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca delivers two-word X-rated response to critics in fiery press conference

Former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte ‘to leave Napoli despite guiding them to Serie A title with replacement lined up’

Inside Chelsea’s dressing room celebrations after Champions League spot secured and fans will LOVE what Caicedo says

Paul Scholes urges Jack Grealish to join Premier League club after Man City snub

Matheus Cunha takes Manchester United star’s shirt number ahead of £62.5m transfer

I didn't get emotional on wedding day so I'm in doghouse with wife after Aberdeen Scottish Cup tears

Aberdeen Scottish Cup win as great as Gothenburg as chairman Dave Cormack revels in Celtic Hampden triumph

Ross Doohan to join Celtic as free transfer from Aberdeen ticks key box for Brendan Rodgers

Max Johnston hits Sturm Graz title repeat as Scot takes us inside 'intense' final moments and party scenes

Aston Villa file complaint over choice of referee for Man Utd clash

Mikel Arteta reminds Arsenal chief about transfer promise as he sets out summer plans

Gary Lineker's parting shot at BBC boss as Match of the Day feud turns ugly

Aston Villa release angry statement and demand action after Man Utd controversy

Arne Slot drops hint on Liverpool's transfer plans and delivers reality check

Manchester United star confirms he is leaving the club - as Red Devils reveal midfielder is one of three players going as a free agent after Aston Villa win

Sky Sports shock staff after axing long-running programme loved by Jurgen Klopp amid TV company's restructure, plus why Jobe Bellingham ditched his surname during play-off final victory - INSIDE SPORT

Arne Slot thanks Liverpool fans for emotional Trent Alexander-Arnold send-off in Reds star's final game - after plea to supporters not to boo the departing defender beforehand