Nottingham Forest are getting set for their first FA Cup semi-final since the 1990/91 campaign, with Manchester City the opponents at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds have beaten Luton, Exeter, Ipswich and Brighton to get to this stage of the competition, and the last three FA Cup contests have seen victory obtained via penalties.
Forest have had mixed fortunes over City this season, losing 3-0 away at the Etihad Stadium before winning 1-0 against Pep Guardiola’s team back in March with Callum Hudson-Odoi scoring the winner.
The Reds need to make sure they’re ready for the occasion, with Neco Williams and Ryan Yates both suspended and unavailable for the contest at the national stadium.
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Bernardo Silva cites Forest tactic that Real Madrid use
It’s quite remarkable, but the City playmaker has suggested that Forest are quite advanced at one particular tactic, claiming that the team are like Real Madrid when it comes to utilising it.
Silva will likely be in the starting eleven for City on Sunday when the two teams line up for the national anthems ahead of the big kick-off at 4:30pm under the Wembley arch.
He’s been quizzed on Forest and it’s quite intriguing that he’s come out with an answer to suggest the team are akin to Real Madrid in one sense.
Silva said in his press conference: “It’s a tricky team, how deep they defend in a back five. It’s not easy to go through the lines.
“With the quick players they have up front, they can create chances out of nothing and kill you.
“They’re similar to Real Madrid.”
Forest finally receive praise for tactics
There is more than one way to skin a cat when it comes to football and in the modern era, it does seem to be frowned upon if a team doesn’t play like Manchester City.
It’s great that Silva has given Forest their flowers for a remarkable season and there really is nothing to lose on Sunday, with the Reds in the mix to finish the season with a flourish.
Silva will be one of the players tasked with trying to unlock the Forest defence at the weekend and much like the game at the City Ground, the Reds will hope to stand firm on Sunday.
Nuno Espirito Santo deserves immense praise for what he’s achieved at Forest this season and he’s done it by staying true to his principles and for that he does deserve credit.
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