Before kick-off, a giant banner dangled from the upper tier of the Trent End, an oversized mock brown tourist sign. “Destination: Europe,” it read. Below that, a flag of a camper van with Nottingham Forest scarves flickering out of the windows.
At the end of a magnificent season for Forest, the only disappointment was that all roads from here lead to the Conference League and not the Champions League, in which Chelsea will play next season after two years away. First, however, for Enzo Maresca and his players is a trip to Wroclaw, to navigate a final against Real Betis in the competition Forest will grace for the first time next season.
