Nuno Espirito Santo Hails FA Cup Semi-Final Achievement as a Significant Milestone for Nottingham Forest

The manager of Nottingham Forest, Nuno Espirito Santo, described reaching their first FA Cup semi-final in 34 years as a significant achievement for the club following their penalty shootout victory over fellow Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

Forest’s goalkeeper Matz Sels and midfielder Ryan Yates emerged as the team’s heroes, successfully advancing to the next round with a 4-3 win in penalties after the match ended goalless, even after extra time, at the Amex Stadium.

Sels, hailing from Belgium, made crucial saves from Brighton’s Jack Hinshelwood and Diego Gomez during the shootout, while captain Yates delivered the final penalty that sealed the win for the away side, securing their spot at Wembley.

“We are absolutely thrilled, every single one of us. Seeing our supporters like this is a dream come true. There’s nothing better than this experience,” Nuno expressed on the club’s website.

“As for our performance, I think the lads did exceptionally well, truly exceptional. We controlled the midfield and were dominant against a challenging team, so credit goes to everyone involved for that,” he added.

“This victory marks a monumental moment for all of us, especially for Ryan Yates, who is a true club man and our captain,” he continued.

Forest’s win also marked their third consecutive FA Cup penalty shootout triumph, having prevailed over Exeter City and Ipswich Town in earlier rounds.

Sels reflected on the experience, noting it was a moment to cherish.

“We had our chances during the game, but heading to penalties was the way it turned out, and I did my research which proved beneficial for the team,” Sels shared.

“In recent weeks, we’ve focused on penalty practice; however, it’s a different scenario under the pressure of a match. I’m pleased to have helped the team by saving two penalties,” he added.

“The boys did the rest and I’m incredibly proud of them. We will eagerly look forward to the next match in this competition,” he stated. It’s been quite some time since our supporters have experienced a semi-final, so we’re excited as a team, and we hope to achieve something even greater there.