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Zach Abbott says it was a bittersweet moment making his first FA Cup start for Nottingham Forest in the Emirates FA Cup semi-final.
The 18-year-old made his FA Cup bow at Wembley as the Reds exited the competition.
Abbott has progressed from the Forest Academy to the first team and the young defender admitted he had goosebumps before the game when he heard his name being sung from the Reds’ end of Wembley.
“It’s a bittersweet moment, the team have come a long way in this cup run through the penalty shoot-outs, shown a lot of bravery and for it to end like this is disappointing.
“On another day it would have gone our way; we hit the woodwork a few times, but I thought the fans were excellent.
“I had goosebumps at the start of the game, to hear everyone chanting my name is what dreams are made of.
“I remember being sat in the stands with my dad when I was 15 watching the play-off final and how happy I was to see the team get over the line. Unfortunately we couldn’t get over the line today.
“It’s moments like that for me, my dad and my family; they’ve all contributed to it. So it’s a bittersweet day really.
“We take the positives away from the performance, they have some very good players and we made it difficult for them.
“On another day it’s a completely different game, it could have been 2-1 and we’re on the front foot.”