Nottingham Forest's Matz Sels Clarifies Team's Focus Away From Premier League Title Aspirations

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Nottingham Forest's goalkeeper, Matz Sels, stated that the team is not considering a Premier League title pursuit despite their commendable draw against Liverpool. Chris Wood gave Forest an early lead at City Ground, but Diogo Jota quickly equalised for Liverpool. The Reds remain six points ahead of Forest with a game in hand. Forest, initially expected to battle relegation, now aim higher as they enjoy good form.

At the season's start, many predicted Nottingham Forest would struggle to avoid relegation. However, Sels mentioned that the team is now setting new goals. "We are not talking about this. We want to finish as high as possible in the league," he told TNT Sports. With 41 points and 17 games remaining, they can aim higher and see where they end up.

Sels played a crucial role in maintaining Forest's unbeaten streak of eight matches across all competitions. In the final moments against Liverpool, he made three crucial saves against Jota, Mohamed Salah, and Cody Gakpo. Nuno Espirito Santo praised Sels' performance, saying: "He was amazing. Matz kept us in the game with some huge saves."

This season, Sels has made 63 saves in the Premier League, ranking fifth among goalkeepers. His save percentage stands at 75.9%, the highest among regular starters. Nuno highlighted Sels' contributions: "He has been able to keep us in games many times now." This underscores his importance to the team and indicates areas for defensive improvement.

Nuno also addressed whether Forest sees themselves as title contenders. He expressed satisfaction with their ability to compete with top teams like Liverpool. "It shows a lot for the way that the players commit themselves," he explained. The team's disappointment after drawing with Liverpool reflects their ambition and desire to progress further.

Despite not discussing title aspirations openly, Nottingham Forest's current form allows them to set loftier goals than initially anticipated. Their ability to challenge strong teams like Liverpool demonstrates their growth and potential for further success this season.