What's worse: to build up hopes and dreams just to have them stripped away at the last minute, or to never have those hopes and dreams in the first place?

Having mounted the most surprising Champions League charge since Leicester in 2016, Nottingham Forest fans would surely tell you that the former of those options is preferable. The journey that the City Ground has been on this season has been one of football's great fairy-tales.

Remember Where You Came From

After a few weeks, the story was that "this form won't last." They kept winning. At Christmas, it was that "teams will work them out in the second half of the season." They kept winning. Now, they've lost two games in a row and everyone's moved to assess whether Forest will hold out for Champions League football.

Regardless of what happens in the remainder of the season, Nuno Espirito Santo deserves huge praise for what he has achieved this season. While they've spent significant money in recent years, no one predicted Forest to charge for European football.

♣️🪄 pic.twitter.com/HaG37cZCPO

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) April 12, 2025

No Premier League team has made fewer tackles in the attacking two thirds than Forest (238) - and they also have the lowest possession in the league (40.1%). The impenetrable defensive force led by Murillo in tandem with the pace of Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi has been the perfect recipe for Nuno's side to win games 'smash-and-grab' style.

Bump In The Road

When you dive into it, the two losses against Aston Villa and Everton are quite easily explained. Chris Wood was absent against a Villa side who produced some magic to score the first goal. From there it was always going to be tricky.

He's back. 😍 pic.twitter.com/yx9ckc3QnZ

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) April 12, 2025

And then on paper, Everton are perhaps the most 'anti-Forest' in the league. They don't press particularly hard, they don't commit bodies up the pitch and they were perfectly happy to play for a 0-0 and hope some luck fell their way. Murillo's last-minute slip was just that - a mistake, not a meltdown.

There was no catastrophe, no capitulation. If they'd happened three weeks apart no one would have taken notice. But now they face Tottenham in north London and a loss could see them tumble out of the top five. Nuno and his men will be aware of the narrative that will emerge if they don't win.

Plain Sailing From Here?

Having said all that, the fact that the Premier League's top five will have Champions League football, and when you look at the remaining fixtures for each side in the mix, there are plenty of reasons for Forest fans to remain optimistic.

Chelsea face Fulham, Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester United in their final six games. Villa have Newcastle, Manchester City, Bournemouth and Tottenham. Forest's remaining five are all, on paper, fairly comfortable. The only top half side they face is Chelsea on the last day.

Make no mistake: the Champions League dream is still alive. The story has taken a twist, no doubt, but there is no reason for Forest fans to be downbeat. In fact, they are still in the driving seat - and what a journey it has been.