Nottingham Forest's Tragic End, Chelsea's Sweet Beginning

NOTTINGHAM, SUNDAY — The City Ground Stadium witnessed the irony of the home team Nottingham Forest. After being at the top for nearly the entire season, Forest failed to secure a spot in the top five. Their target of qualifying for the Champions League has instead shifted to the hands of the visiting team, Chelsea.

The anticlimax for Forest was marked by a 0-1 defeat to Chelsea at the City Ground Stadium in the final week of the English Premier League, Sunday (25/5/2025 WIB). The only goal from defender Levi Colwill forced the hosts to settle for a seventh-place finish. Meanwhile, Chelsea secured fourth place.

Forest actually has the opportunity to enter the top five if they succeed in winning at home. Two other competitors, Newcastle United and Aston Villa, both suffered defeats this week. However, the team coached by Nuno Espirito Santo was instead defeated by Chelsea, who performed very well.

Instead of qualifying for the Champions League, Forest must be content with securing a ticket to the Europa Conference League. "We had a good chance (to reach the Champions League). It was evident, but we failed to achieve it. It is difficult when everything is in your hands, and then it slips away," said Santo.

Forest could not do more. They had done everything for 90 minutes. However, Lady Luck did not favor them. The star striker Chris Wood, for instance, had two golden opportunities in front of the goal, but his shots always sailed over the crossbar.

It is unusual for Wood, who has scored 20 goals in the league, to miss such an opportunity. Santo also introduced offensive players after falling behind at the beginning of the second half, namely Callum Hudson-Odoi and Jota Silva. However, those efforts were thwarted by Chelsea, who immediately adopted an extra defensive approach.

The match against Chelsea is merely the tip of the iceberg regarding Forest's decline. The team that finished in 17th place last season has indeed shown inconsistency as the season nears its end. Wood and his teammates are beginning to feel the pressure and the burden to qualify for the Champions League.

Forest have won just two of their last eight league games, a run that has seen them drop to third place, having previously been tipped to finish above Manchester City and Chelsea by the Opta supercomputer.

Although it ended bitterly, Santo remains proud of his team. The team's achievements have far exceeded expectations at the beginning of the season. "We are proud and ready to continue again (next season). If you ask me, this has been a good season due to the commitment of the players," he stated.

On the other hand, a bright future awaits Chelsea. Maresca, in his first season, successfully met the target of qualifying for the Champions League. "The Blues" will return to the most prestigious tournament after a one-season absence. Cole Palmer and his teammates are much more mature this season.

This was evident during crucial situations, such as the decisive match earlier. They were very cautious throughout the game. When presented with a small opportunity, like Colwill's goal, Chelsea capitalized on it very well. The efficiency in defense and attack was not apparent last season, especially in major matches.

Maresca stated that achieving fourth place is very special because the competition at the top is very tight. Five teams are still vying for three Champions League tickets in the final week. "They have developed significantly as players and as a team. This is evident in their performances," he said.

Interestingly, Chelsea can talk a lot this season with a very young squad. According to Opta, the average age of Chelsea's starters in the Premier League this season is 24 years and 36 days. That is the youngest team in a season ever recorded in the history of the competition.

"Before the season started, many people doubted us. They said 'we are still young, inexperienced, and will fail.' However, we are here after a long and tough season. We are still looking at the final (Conference League) and the trophy," said Chelsea captain Reece James.

Six teams have been confirmed to represent England in the Champions League next season. Five teams secured their spots from the domestic league, namely Liverpool, Arsenal, City, Chelsea, and Newcastle. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur qualified through a special route as the champions of the Europa League.

Newcastle is very fortunate to remain in the top five despite losing to Everton 0-1 in the final week. The team coached by Eddie Howe was aided by the defeats of Villa and Forest. Villa finished in sixth place and must be content with a spot in next season's Europa League. (AP/REUTERS)