Nuno Espírito Santo says the players can feel the excitement around Nottingham Forest’s Emirates FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on Sunday at Wembley Stadium (kick-off 4.30pm).
Around 35,000 Reds are set to head to North London ahead of Forest’s first semi-final in the competition since 1991 and the club’s first visit to Wembley since 2022.
Nuno revealed his pride at giving the backing the players will receive at Wembley but emphasised the importance of remaining focused on Sunday’s match.
“There’s a big excitement, more noise around us, a bigger ticket requirement and more distractions; all things that we try to anticipate to arrive on Sunday ready to go.
“We can feel it (the excitement), but as a squad we have to keep our commitment and focus on what is really important which is the game and the opponent and how hard it is going to be.
“We speak to different generations of fans, fans that have been there and have a chance to return. They are proud and happy and we have fans that are going to go for the first time.
“We’re aware of the excitement but that shows how well the players are doing things. We’re allowing people to live these special occasions again and big occasions as a club.
“We are proud and happy that we make our fans happy, this is what we work for, to see smiles on our fans’ faces.
“I think if it was possible we would take even more fans if they had the chance to go. But 35,000 is a nice number to have behind us and we can’t thank them enough.”
The Forest Head Coach says the whole squad will travel to the match together, and highlighted the potential benefits of all the players being present on the day.
“All of the squad is going to travel because it’s a competition that every player has been involved in so it’s fair that everybody is there.
“Our players want to go and that shows the togetherness of the team among themselves. They know being there could help us, it could help us be more comfortable and less nervous; everybody is required.”