Nottingham Forest v Chelsea: Fans' Q&Apublished at 20:01 23 May
20:01 23 May
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Depending on results elsewhere, Nottingham Forest's match with Chelsea could prove to be winner takes all in the race for Champions League qualification.
The Blues know that a win will guarantee them a spot in the top five, while Forest will have to take all three points and hope for a favour from Aston Villa's game at Old Trafford or Newcastle's at St James' Park.
While the two sides go head to head on the pitch, we asked our fan writers for each club to go head to head off it.
Each fan got to ask three questions to each other before the big game...
Forest 'style of play suits against a team like Chelsea'published at 20:01 23 May
20:01 23 May
Saveena Johal Fan writer
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Here is what our Nottingham Forest fan Saveena Johal had to say on questions set by our Chelsea er Ross Mooring.
Are you confident you can win on Sunday?
I am. The atmosphere will be cracking for the final home game, and we are going into the game off the back of a pivotal, and long-awaited win at West Ham.
Our style of play suits us against a team like Chelsea, so I'm hoping for ample opportunity for us to sit back and hit them on the break.
With the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ola Aina back from injury, the team will be up for it - this is a game that we can really go for and ultimately qualify for Europe, be that Champions League or Europa League.
Who is the player most likely to unlock Chelsea's defence?
Morgan Gibbs-White has been great at breaking down defensive lines. As a talented all-round player, he has the ability to drift through the opposition and heavily influence games.
He has performed well recently, with goals and assists in our past two matches. He has ounces of creativity both in and out of possession, smart tactical play and gets stuck into the deeper areas.
If Gibbs-White is at his peak on Sunday, there is no doubt the team as a whole will play well.
Which area of the Forest team could the Blues exploit, if any?
Ibrahim Sangare sometimes lets players drift past him in midfield, and he is lacking the fitness to get back. As he has not had regular game time, we have not been able to see his potential. He could therefore be a weak-link if he does play on Sunday.
Aside from that, we have conceded in the past three home games due to defensive errors. Matz Sels has been phenomenal, however, and with him I'm optimistic that he will help to boost the confidence in our back-line for the final game.
Caicedo will 'lead the charge' against Forestpublished at 20:00 23 May
20:00 23 May
Ross Mooring Fan writer
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Here is what our Chelsea fan Ross Mooring had to say on questions put by our Nottingham Forest er Saveena Johal.
Given the recent trajectory of Chelsea, how confident are you that you can secure a Champions League spot on Sunday?
Even with the uptick in results over the past couple of months, performances have not reached the heights of the form in 2024 and, without a recognised striker available on Sunday, it is going to be even harder for the Blues.
It feels as if Forest possess more self-confidence as a unit, while Chelsea are probably going to need a bit of magic from Cole Palmer or a wildcard like Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez, or even Tyrique George.
Colour me more hopeful than confident, but anything can happen in what is sure to resemble a cup final at the City Ground.
Which Blues player has impressed you the most this season?
Moises Caicedo - a devastating mixture of N'Golo Kante and Michael Essien - has had a dominant season from start to finish and deservedly won both the fans' and players' player of the season awards.
Cole Palmer's dip in form has been somewhat overstated as, even in his own dry spell, he has continued to churn out chances, of which team-mates have not taken advantage.
The trio in the first answer have all enjoyed strong ends to the campaign too, but if the Blues are going to keep Forest out and attack at pace, Caicedo will be the one leading the charge.
How would you rate your season, as 10 games in you were considered title contenders?
At the moment, six out of 10 seems right. A win on Sunday and in the Conference League final would probably push it to a seven, while the less said about two potential defeats the better.
Sustaining a title challenge was probably not a realistic target, but the messaging at the time from Enzo Maresca did the team no favours.
There have been a lot of missed opportunities throughout the campaign, including two dismal domestic cup defeats away from home. Many players have also struggled to perform in Maresca's system, resulting in just as many bad performances as bad results.
Nuno on Awoniyi, his future and players being 'on fire' for Chelseapublished at 15:34 23 May
15:34 23 May
Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Chelsea (kick-off 16:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Nuno confirmed that Murillo is still being assessed after injuring his ankle at West Ham and has not been able to train. The Forest boss did not share nay other team news.
On the latest with Taiwo Awoniyi after his serious injury and surgery: "He is much better. Already been able to walk. Doctor informed us [Awoniyi] is starting his normal life in of eating his food, so he is doing much better."
On whether the forward would be at the ground on Sunday: "In the game, he is not going to be with us - it was a big issue. It is in our mind and we want him to be healthy again. So it is going to be a game for Taiwo, for the fans, for the city, for everybody."
Despite the pressure on the game, Nuno insisted this has been a "normal week" for the team: "Nothing changes. One thing we are enjoying is preparing for a big match, so why not enjoy it? Everyone is enjoying it here."
On his message to the players before the game: "In a game like this, with motivation you just don't have to worry about that. It is already there. Players are on fire to play the game so the message is to stick to the task. Recognise it is a tough team to play against and enjoy and play the game like we always do."
After Morgan Gibbs-White's call-up to the England squad, Nuno said he was "proud" of the midfielder and fielded questions on the midfielder's future: "No, I'm only concerned about his performance on Sunday. This is what we think. In his mind, the only thought is to compete and help the team on Sunday."
On reports linking Nuno with the Roma job: "Do you really think I'm going to waste time on that? So much to think and get ready - my main focus is preparing the team, getting best solutions and details for players. Nothing else."
On how much home will help against Chelsea: "The City Ground will help us. They have been doing so since the start of the season and last season, helping us a lot. Hopefully, it stays an enjoyable day for everyone. Chelsea are a good team, with good players and talented squad. It is a decisive game for everyone."
Tuchel names England squad for World Cup qualifier and friendlypublished at 10:19 23 May
10:19 23 May
England manager Thomas Tuchel has announced his squad for the World Cup qualifier against Andorra (7 June) and friendly against Senegal (10 June).
Manchester City's Phil Foden, Newcastle's Tino Livramento and West Ham's Jarrod Bowen all miss out, but Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White and Chelsea duo Noni Madueke and Trevoh Chalobah have been selected.
'The chances are low - but Forest only need it to happen once'published at 09:15 23 May
09:15 23 May
Sunday's visit of Chelsea "has the potential to be a defining moment" in Nottingham Forest's history, says Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray.
"Whatever happens, whatever the outcome is, you have to applaud what Forest have done this season because it has come out of nowhere," he told BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up and Show More Football podcast.
"They are the first Premier League team to double their points tally from one season to the next.
"They have taken so many strides in one short season. The opportunity if things go right on Sunday afternoon is to open up unthought-of potential in the space of 90 minutes.
"It has the potential to be a defining moment in the club's history."
As illustrated in the graphic above, Forest know they need to win and rely on Newcastle or Aston Villa to drop points in order for them to reach the Champions League.
"It's possible because anything in football is," Fray said. "A rush of blood to the head because of tension or nerves, an early red card in a game, things can change. Everton could start to frustrate Newcastle a little bit - anything could happen.
"The reason all the predictors and the Opta Supercomputer only has Forest on a percentage chance in the low 20s to reach the Champions League is because they have a tough task to beat Chelsea and rely on Everton or a poor Manchester United to take points off those other two sides, who have had great seasons.
"Being realistic, you can see why the chances are so low. If you run the scenarios four or five times maybe, only once do Forest get into the Champions League. But it could be that once. They only need it to happen once."
🎧 One to go: They couldn't - could they?published at 18:56 22 May
18:56 22 May
A new episode of the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast is now available to listen to and on BBC Sounds.
BBC Radio Nottingham's David Jackson and Colin Fray discuss Forest's chances of qualifying for the Champions League before Sunday's pivotal showdown with Chelsea.
The also break down Taiwo Awoniyi's serious injury and hear from captain Ryan Yates and midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.
How will top five race finish? Fans' predictionpublished at 18:27 22 May
18:27 22 May
The final day of the 2024-25 Premier League is edging closer, which means we will soon know the answer to who will make up the remaining Champions League spots.
Five teams are in contention for the final three positions and earlier on Thursday, we asked you to put in order where you thought those clubs would finish.
The results showed Chelsea and Nottingham Forest - who face each other at the City Ground - are who you believe will be the sides to miss out.
However it pans out, it is set to be an afternoon of high tension.
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