Nottingham Forest’s Historic Season: FA Cup Glory or Champions League Dream?
Nottingham Forest’s remarkable 2024/25 campaign has sparked a debate that no one could have reasonably predicted even just a few short years ago. The club is chasing glory on two fronts: a first FA Cup triumph in over half a century and an improbable qualification for the UEFA Champions League. It’s a moment of pure excitement, but also one of deep reflection for the club’s fans, players, and legends.
At the heart of the discussion is a simple question: If Nottingham Forest can only have one, should they prioritise lifting the FA Cup or securing a place among Europe’s elite?
The Emotional Pull of the FA Cup
For older generations of Forest fans, and for club legends like Mark Crossley, the answer is clear. The FA Cup has an emotional weight that simply cannot be ignored.
Crossley, who famously saved a penalty in Forest’s last FA Cup final appearance in 1991, has been vocal in the buildup to the semi-final clash. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he laid bare the emotional significance of lifting the Cup.
“Winning that trophy [the FA Cup] was everything because we knew what it meant to Cloughie [Brian Clough]. If it were a choice between the Champions League and winning the Cup this time, I’d take the Cup all day long.”
Crossley’s view isn’t just about personal nostalgia. It is deeply intertwined with the history of Nottingham Forest and the unfulfilled dreams of the club’s most iconic manager. Brian Clough, who led Forest to two European Cups, multiple League Cups, and a First Division title, never managed to win the FA Cup. It was the one domestic trophy that eluded him — the one prize that could have completed his glittering English football resume.
Winning the FA Cup in 2025 wouldn’t just be about silverware for the current generation; it would be a symbolic completion of Clough’s vision, a closing of a circle that has remained open for decades.
“That final has still stayed with us a little bit,” Crossley added. “The club deserves that trophy in its cabinet. It’s all I wanted as a kid and it’s the one thing people always ask me about. They don’t ask me what it was like to play against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup. They ask me about Wembley.”
This connection between the FA Cup and the club’s identity runs deep. It evokes memories of a time when Forest were among the giants of English football. It offers an immediate, tangible reward — the chance for the players to parade through Nottingham with a major trophy, to etch their names into club folklore forever.
The Strategic Pull of the Champions League
Yet, football evolves. In today’s game, Champions League qualification represents more than prestige; it is a strategic turning point for any club aspiring to establish itself among the elite.
Callum Hudson-Odoi, one of Forest’s brightest stars this season, understands this better than most. Having won the Champions League with Chelsea, he has experienced firsthand what participation in Europe’s premier club competition means.
Speaking to ITV Sport, Hudson-Odoi gave his honest perspective:
“Honestly, for me, I would say Champions League. The reason why I say that is […] to have that sort of football and the calibre of teams coming here every other week to play at the City Ground would be a crazy feeling.”
Hudson-Odoi’s words reflect the forward-looking ambition within the Forest squad. Champions League qualification would not just be a cherry on top of an already successful season; it would transform Nottingham Forest’s future.
Financially, the rewards are enormous. A single season in the Champions League can earn a club upwards of £40 million, depending on results, broadcast revenue, and sponsorship bonuses. That money can be reinvested into improving the squad, upgrading facilities, and enhancing the club’s academy infrastructure. It can attract top talent, ensuring Forest are no longer seen as an overachieving mid-table Premier League side but as a genuine force to be reckoned with.
Furthermore, the exposure that comes with the Champions League is priceless. Nottingham Forest — a club whose European history is rich but whose recent past has been less glamorous — would be back on the global map. Young fans across Europe and beyond would see Forest shirts lining up against Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, or Paris Saint-Germain. The City Ground, already famous for its old-school atmosphere, would become a European fortress once again.
For players like Hudson-Odoi, it’s about testing themselves at the very highest level. It’s about ambition, progression, and proving that Forest can stand toe-to-toe with Europe’s best.
“Winning the FA Cup would be amazing too,” Hudson-Odoi acknowledged. “I haven’t won that properly yet, so that would be nice. Hopefully, we can get that as well.”
His remarks reflect the genuine desire within the squad to achieve both — but if forced to choose, there’s a clear lean towards the broader, long-term opportunity that Champions League football would bring.
Two Dreams, One Incredible Journey
The truth is, Nottingham Forest are not facing a problem — they are facing a privilege. The club has reached a point where such conversations are even possible, and that in itself is a massive credit to Nuno Espirito Santo, his players, and the club’s management.
When Nuno took over, Forest were fighting to establish themselves in the Premier League. Now, they are on the verge of making history in two different competitions.
The Premier League top-four race remains brutally competitive, with Newcastle, Chelsea, Manchester United, and even Aston Villa breathing down Forest’s neck. Every point is crucial. Champions League qualification will not be handed to them; they will have to fight for it tooth and nail.
At the same time, Forest have a golden chance in the FA Cup. Cup competitions carry an element of unpredictability — one good day at Wembley can lead to glory. In the semi-finals, Forest face a stern test, but as Mark Crossley and many others have pointed out, knockout football is about moments, about seizing the opportunity when it comes.
The Final Word: Pride, Progress, and Perspective
In the end, there’s no definitive right or wrong answer to the question. Winning the FA Cup would be an emotional triumph, a tribute to the club’s glorious past and to figures like Brian Clough. It would be a moment of pure joy for fans who have waited so long for such a day.
Champions League qualification, on the other hand, would be a seismic event that could redefine what Nottingham Forest stands for in the modern game. It would open doors to possibilities that were unimaginable even a few years ago.
Perhaps the best thing for Forest is this: they don’t have to choose just yet. Both dreams are still alive. Both remain within reach.
And no matter how the season ends, Nottingham Forest’s 2024/25 campaign will go down as one of the most thrilling, inspiring, and transformative periods in the club’s rich history. From the battlefields of the Championship to the heights of the Premier League and Europe, Forest are back — and they are dreaming big.
And maybe, just maybe, they can have both.
Would you like me to also do a super dramatic version, almost like an inspirational speech or a “letter to the fans”? That could be really cool if you want something even more epic!