Nottingham Forest head coach Vitor Pereira faces a familiar rotation quandary as his side attempt to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit in the Europa League three days before a trip to Tottenham that could prove defining in their attempt to stay in the Premier League.
Forest are above third-bottom West Ham on goal difference and a point behind Spurs after a 0-0 draw at home to Fulham on Saturday, with their league schedule offering a significant distraction from the chance to reach a European quarter-final by avenging their second home defeat of the campaign to Midtjylland.
“If I don’t rotate the team against Tottenham after three days with travel again, it would not be possible to compete,” the Portuguese told Sky Sports, adding that Forest will head to Denmark “with the spirit to fight for qualification”.
“In the first game against Midtjylland, in my mind, I tried to win the game in 60 minutes. If [we had lost] 2-0 or 3-0, it would be completely different and I would have had the chance to make subs and rotate some players. It would not be easy to recover the score.”
Pereira may be encouraged by Midtjylland’s nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions ending on Sunday with a 1-0 home defeat to Nordsjaelland in the Danish top flight, finishing the weekend five points behind AGF in second place.
“It’s not often that you play in three tournaments at this point in [the season],” said head coach Mike Tullberg (via Midtjylland’s website), also referencing his team’s Danish Cup final against Copenhagen on May 14.
“What I can say is that what we did in terms of intensity and second balls [against Nordsjaelland] is not good enough.
“We weren’t as good on second balls as we have been all season. I’m upset about that. Of course you can waste chances, but you have to fight for 90 minutes – and I don’t think we did.”
The winners of the tie will meet Stuttgart or Porto in the last eight in April. You can see the full Europa League bracket here.
Midtjylland v Nottingham Forest team news
Left-back Paulinho (illness), midfielder Alamari Djabi, winger Mikel Gogorza (hamstring) and forwards Ola Brynhildsen and Franculino (both knee) are injured for Midtjylland.
Forest goalkeeper John Victor, defenders Willy Boly and Nicolo Savona and striker Chris Wood are all out with knee injuries.
Centre-back Jair Cunha has a foot issue and goalkeeper Stefan Ortega has a calf problem. Left-back Luca Netz is ineligible.
