Vitor Pereira draws inspiration from history to restore European success at Forest

Nottingham Forest will confront their Premier League opponents Aston Villa in the opening fixture of the Europa League semi-final on Thursday, with the goal of securing their first European trophy since Brian Clough guided them to consecutive European Cup wins in 1979 and 1980.

The fixture unfolds amid Nottingham Forest's struggle to avoid relegation in the Premier League after a difficult season, although a recent sequence of six unbeaten league games has alleviated their worries.

"If we want to put our name in the history of this club, we need to get to the final, to win the final," said Pereira, who is the fourth manager to take charge of Forest this season.

"This is, of course, an inspiration for us. This is a big chance to move forward.

"This week I went into the city centre and I saw the statue of the big manager of this club. I don't want my statue anywhere but we can imagine what he was in this city.

"He's in the city centre because he did something fantastic that stays in the heart of these people until now. For the new generations, for sure it's an inspiration for us. We try to do our best to work to emulate what he did."

In the semi-finals, Forest confront a formidable opponent in Villa, a side also determined to halt a lengthy absence from major honours.

Unai Emery, the manager of Villa, has claimed four Europa League titles during his coaching career, and the Birmingham outfit, positioned fifth in the Premier League, enter the two-match contest as the frontrunners.

"I want to be there and to enjoy and to compete, because I like to compete," Pereira said.

"I'll face a top, top manager with his team, the king of the Europa League, because he has four trophies.

"It will be a very great challenge for us. We have to compete with the true spirit of a champion."