Levi Colwill was the unlikely hero on a dramatic final day as Chelsea clinched a Champions League return with a tense 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest, denying the hosts a fairytale end to their finest season in decades.
In a game dripping with tension and European stakes, it was Colwill’s composed finish early in the second half that made the difference. The Chelsea defender pounced after Neco Williams failed to clear Pedro Neto’s low ball across the face of goal, sending the travelling fans behind the net into euphoria.
“Amazing, we’ve grinded it out all season and today for these fans, we hope they’re happy,” Colwill told reporters post-match. “We did it and we’re proud, as a club, we’re back where we should be.”
Enzo Maresca’s side finish fourth on 69 points, completing a turbulent but ultimately successful first season under the Italian. Their place among Europe’s elite next season marks Chelsea’s first Champions League appearance since 2021-22.
Forest, meanwhile, can hold their heads high despite the heartbreak. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men pushed the Blues to the edge and almost snatched a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time, but Chris Wood fired over from close range to leave the home crowd crestfallen.
Still, the City Ground applauded a campaign few saw coming. Tipped for relegation at the start, Forest surged to seventh, securing a place in the UEFA Conference League, their first continental venture in nearly 30 years.
The match had all the ferocity of a cup final. Pedro Neto missed a golden opportunity in the first half, while Forest threatened through Ola Aina and Wood, with both sides feeding off the electric atmosphere under the Nottingham sun.
There was an emotional moment as Taiwo Awoniyi, recovering from emergency surgery, waved to fans from the sidelines. It capped a season of resilience and pride for Forest, who became the first Premier League side ever to double their points tally from the previous campaign.
Chelsea players, some tearful, stayed long after the final whistle to salute their fans. With the Conference League final against Real Betis still to come.
