Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira, speaking to TNT Sports: “Very happy, we proved today that we came to compete. We have good, talented players. The first half was fantastic. On this difficult pitch we were a high level. Second half we kept going, scored goals that were cancelled. But in the end, we’re happy. We have to balance the players now for the weekend.”
On fringe players delivering: “Fantastic – I started to do subs not because we were playing badly but to balance the energy and be ready for Sunday.
"It's important [to win] – the energy and spirit is different when we win. I have very good players, and we showed everything today – team spirit and character.
"I don't have any doubt that we have the quality. We will compete for our targets. I want to thank the supporters too, because today they deserved to keep going in this competition."
Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, speaking to TNT Sports: “Everyone is happy, buzzing. Everyone is tired as well – it was a long fight today. We played so good, energy from minute one. A lot of changes but the energy was unbelievable and from the supporters who came a long way to see us. The situation in the league where we are too, this is such a good feeling.
"To be honest, I thought this is better to get it done before the finish, then we scored that goal, which was offside. They could break too at the end with everyone tired. We were lucky today – a shootout is 50-50, but we'll take it."
On how much momentum this gives going forward: “Hopefully a lot, everyone is tired, but this should give us a big boost for the coming weeks. Big chance to get the three points [at Tottenham on Sunday], get above them and keep going.”
Did you know?
- Nottingham Forest have now reached at least the quarter-finals in five of their seven campaigns in major Uefa competition, failing only in 1980-81 (European Cup) and 1984-85 (Uefa Cup).
- Nottingham Forest are the first ever English team to progress from or win a Uefa Cup or Europa League knockout stage tie having lost the first leg at home.
