{"id":929811,"date":"2026-05-01T02:44:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T02:44:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/929811\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T02:44:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T02:44:15","slug":"nottingham-forest-vs-aston-villa-live-team-news-and-updates-as-english-clubs-clash-in-europa-league-semi-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/929811\/","title":{"rendered":"Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa LIVE: Team news and updates as English clubs clash in Europa League semi-final"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>Gibbs-White reacts to Martinez’s brilliant save:<\/p>\n

\u201cHow’s he saved that, by the way? How’s he saved that? He did one similar last year. I was screaming at Igor going ‘how have you not scored that?’ But it’s all credit to the goalkeeper, it’s a great save.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"(Reuters)<\/p>\n

Flo Clifford1 May 2026 01:00<\/p>\n

<\/a>Morgan Gibbs-White continues:<\/p>\n

\u201cI think having the two strikers up there helps me and Omari out massively because it leaves their two centre-backs isolated and it allows us to have the space to come inside and do what we need to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Chris Wood, he says: \u201c\u201cHe’s been a massive miss for us this season. Fair play to him for coming back so early. He’s been a credit to us since he’s come back and long may it continue.<\/p>\n

\u201cNever in doubt. Full confidence in him. Ten years. That’s why he’s our penalty taker. It’s an incredible finish. Cool, calm, composed. We know as a team we can rely on him when we need him. And it showed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flo Clifford1 May 2026 00:34<\/p>\n

<\/a>Morgan Gibbs White tells TNT Sports: <\/p>\n

On new manager Vitor Pereira, he says: \u201cHe’s been a massive part of the success that we’ve recently had in terms of his ideas, his tactics. The way he believes football should be with passion, aggression and fight. We’ve been showing that in our performances. The atmosphere today was incredible. I think the boys put on an incredible performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe control we had in the game, even when they had the ball, we felt we had control. We weren’t comfortable because obviously they have incredible talent and threat but with the ball we were calm, confident, had a couple of chances where we could have gone 1-0 up before. But delighted for Woody to score his penalty. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut it’s only half-time. There’s a lot to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flo Clifford1 May 2026 00:15<\/p>\n

<\/a>Vitor Pereira continues: <\/p>\n

On the second half, he says: \u201cWe changed the players but kept the spirit. The mentality to try to win games. The supporters, fantastic, they help us a lot. Next time we face a big battle.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me it’s an honour to manage this club, to try to help these players, to see the smiles on the faces of these supporters. To be part of the Nottingham family with a manager in the memory of everyone [Brian Clough].<\/p>\n

\u201cI am very proud of my players.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flo Clifford30 April 2026 23:55<\/p>\n

<\/a>Chris Wood tells TNT Sports:<\/p>\n

Asked about how he stayed so calm before taking his penalty, he says: \u201cThat’s what I have to do and that’s what I try to do. It’s the job, the responsibility that my team gives me.\u201d<\/p>\n

On his important role in the team after a difficult injury spell, he says: \u201cThat’s all I wanted to do. I wanted to get back fit and firing to help my team as best as I can at the end of the season. I knew we had a lot to play for when I was fighting to get fit and it’s showing. It’s some big competitions to be a part of.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re in the crunch end of the season. We need to perform on both parts and we’ll be looking to do that for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flo Clifford30 April 2026 23:35<\/p>\n

<\/a>Vitor Pereira tells TNT Sports:<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are a very tough team, but we competed with them. I like to see us playing football, trying to score. We have time to recover a bit and prepare for Chelsea. This is a special group of players.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnai Emery is a top manager, he has been with his team for a long time. We are together for a short time. In the end it was a good fight. I am very competitive, that’s why I like to be in the Premier League, to compete with this kind of manager.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had the privilege to be the manager of these boys, they are a fantastic group. Spirit, four managers in a season, and finishing at this level, competing at this level together and united. This is a honour for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flo Clifford30 April 2026 23:15<\/p>\n

<\/a>Elsewhere…<\/p>\n

So Braga lead 2-1 in their tie with Freiburg after a 92nd-minute goal from substitute Mario Dorgeles.<\/p>\n

Crystal Palace lead Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 after the away leg of their Conference League semi-final, held in Poland, and have a nice cushion to take back to Selhurst Park next week. <\/p>\n

Flo Clifford30 April 2026 23:00<\/p>\n

<\/a>Unai Emery tells TNT Sports: <\/p>\n

On Anderson\u2019s challenge on Watkins, Emery says: \u201cFantastic the referee, fantastic. But the VAR is so so bad. It’s a clear red card, I don’t understand why the VAR is not calling the referee because it’s so clear. It’s a huge, huge mistake. VAR is responsible.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe referee – fantastic, fantastic job, 10 out of 10, I appreciated how he managed the match for 90 minutes. <\/p>\n

\u201cI watched it back – wow. Huge. He could break his ankle. VAR where are you? It is your responsibility, we are professionals. It was so clear for everybody. He could break his ankle. It’s not fair.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flo Clifford30 April 2026 22:51<\/p>\n

<\/a>Vitor Pereira tells TNT Sports:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe problem in the game last time we played them, a lot of times it was two against two, and it’s not easy to control them. I asked my players to play four against four with just one midfielder jumping.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am proud we played in our way, pressing high but if they attack then reorganise team in a block. Tactically, we did what we should.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe transition of Villa is very dangerous, when they drive with the ball at our defensive line, it’s a big problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we go to win the ball we cannot lose, because they [Villa] are very aggressive in that moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flo Clifford30 April 2026 22:45<\/p>\n

<\/a>Vitor Pereira doing the job for Forest<\/p>\n

Forest are on their fourth manager of the season and it seems to be fourth time lucky. Nine games unbeaten on all fronts, four straight wins, and 10 straight goals with no reply. <\/p>\n

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