Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson says he’s determined to get back into the Champions League after his earlier taste of the competition with Newcastle United.
Anderson was the standout performer in Forest’s recent 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur, netting the opening goal in a match that could prove crucial in their push for a top-five finish.
The result pushed Forest to third place in the Premier League, setting the tone for what could be a historic end to the season.
“I’ve played in the Champions League and it’s an experience you want again and again,” Anderson told reporters. “I’m focused on helping Forest get there, and if we keep doing what we’ve been doing, I believe it’s possible.”
With the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on the horizon, the Forest squad is riding a wave of confidence.
The club has already notched nine away wins this season, second only to Liverpool, showing they’re more than capable of grinding out results on the road.
Teddy Sheringham, a former Forest striker, believes their strong mentality could be the key. “Their confidence will be sky-high,” he said. “They’re facing teams with little left to play for, and that can play to Forest’s advantage.”
Michael Owen echoed that sentiment, pointing to Forest’s remaining fixtures as favourable in the race for Champions League qualification. “They have a real shot at this,” he said. “The belief and intensity they’re playing with right now could take them all the way.”
Anderson, just 21, has become an essential figure under Nuno Espirito Santo, not only providing attacking threat but also adding balance and energy in midfield.
His hunger to return to Europe’s biggest stage is shared by the entire squad, who are starting to believe that this season could be one to remember.
If Forest can keep up their form and stay focused, a return to the Champions League, once a distant dream, could soon become a stunning reality.
