Hutchinson says a Europa League final would be 'amazing' for Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest claimed a narrow 1-0 win in the first leg against Aston Villa at the City Ground on Thursday, thanks to a late penalty scored by Chris Wood.

Hutchinson put in an impressive display, managing 10 successful dribbles, setting up four opportunities, and taking the second-most shots in the game.

This made him the first player to achieve such stats in the tournament since Nico Williams did so for Athletic Club versus AS Roma in the previous season.

Looking back on his performance, the 22-year-old mentioned that making it to the final would be incredibly significant, though he emphasised that there is still plenty of work ahead.

"I think for us getting to the semi-final has been a massive boost to the club, to us players because it's very hard to get into the semi-finals," the England youth international replied to Flashscore.com's query in the mixed zone.

"Obviously, we've just won (against Aston Villa), so we've got to focus on next week.

"If we get to the final, it's going to be amazing for the club and for everyone, really."

A draw or better in the second leg would suffice for Vítor Pereira’s team to advance, as Forest aim for their third major European final appearance, after their victories in the European Cup during the 1978-79 and 1979-80 seasons.

Moreover, history favours them, with only one elimination in their previous 13 knockout ties after a first-leg win, the exception being the 1983-84 UEFA Cup semi-final loss to R.S.C. Anderlecht.

Hutchinson played a pivotal role in Forest’s winning goal, as his cross hit Lucas Digne’s arm, leading to a VAR check and the penalty that Wood dispatched.

When addressing the press, he confessed he was unaware that his touch from Morgan Gibbs-White’s pass had stayed within the Aston Villa box.

"I thought I got there just in time. I didn't see it back, but everyone says get at the back post, so I just tried for that one. I could have left it, but got lucky with it."

He also discussed managing commitments in both domestic and European fixtures, showing belief in the team’s form following nine straight unbeaten games across all competitions.

"It's about recovery. I think we've got to recover fast and just treat our body right," the ex-Ipswich Town player went on.

"We've just got to dig through it, it's the last four games now, so we've just got to dig deep and keep going. 

"We want to win all our games. I think we've got a massive confidence now, we've been winning a lot. I think next week we can get at them again."

The one-time Chelsea prospect arrived at the City Ground club for a record £37.5 million fee yet found it tough to contribute early on. Now, though, he is a central part of the attacking setup.

He described how he has integrated into the group and coped with the demands of consistent Premier League and European action.

"I've just kept going, I haven't felt sorry for myself," Hutchinson noted. 

"In football, a lot can change in a short amount of time. I'm just grateful to have that mentality and to have God with me as I keep progressing in my career."

Prior to the trip to Aston Villa for the Europa League semi-final return match, Nottingham Forest will head to Stamford Bridge for Monday’s Premier League encounter. 

They have dropped points in only two of eight league away matches against the Blues, and remain unbeaten in all three since re-entering the top flight in 2022.