Yates urges Forest to grasp ´incredible´ Europa League opportunity

Ryan Yates still believes Nottingham Forest have an “incredible opportunity” to have a positive season with a deep run in the Europa League.

After finishing 13th in the league phase of the competition, Forest overcame a two-legged tie with Fenerbahce 4-2 on aggregate to reach the last 16, with Midtjylland up next.

Forest and Midtjylland have already faced off in the Europa League this season, with the Danish side beating Ange Postecoglou’s Forest team 3-2 at the City Ground in October.

And since then, Forest’s form, particularly in the Premier League, has not improved, with the Tricky Trees currently 17th and just one point above the relegation zone.

Now under the guidance of Vitor Pereira, Forest have been assigned a 58% chance of reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League by the Opta supercomputer, and Yates believes his team can deliver a huge performance on home soil this Thursday.

“Midtjylland are a very strong team from set-pieces, and we’re under no illusions we need to be at our best physically and mentally,” Yates told reporters.

“We take a lot of learning from that night [in the league phase], and hopefully we can put that into place.

“We have an incredible opportunity to still have a positive season. We have to take these opportunities when they come.”

Midtjylland preparations. pic.twitter.com/pT50SoBa3p

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) March 10, 2026

Forest have a 65% win ratio in the first legs of major European knockout ties (won 15/23, D3 L5), but they come up against a Midtjylland side who often relish these occasions.

They have won four of their nine matches against English sides in all European competitions (D2 L3), with all four wins coming against different clubs (Manchester City, Southampton, Manchester United and Forest).

In addition, Midtjylland have won 11 of their last 13 matches in European competition (including qualifiers), although the two games they have not won in that run are their two most recent away games (D1 L1).

Pereira has endured a mixed start to life in the Forest dugout since replacing Sean Dyche in February, winning one of his five games in charge (D1 L3), though his last result saw his team come from behind twice to take a point away at Manchester City.

And though Premier League survival will be considered a priority, Pereira insisted that his team would give everything in both competitions in the hope of success.

“I will try to do my best, try to keep the team competitive in both games,” Pereira said. “We have quality.

“It is just a matter of connecting them, organising them and giving them confidence to perform and be themselves.

“For now, we will try to be competitive in both – try to get points and get results in the Europa League and in the Premier League.”