Levi Colwill emerged as the unlikely hero for Chelsea at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, poking home the only goal of a nervy encounter just five minutes into the second half.
The 20-year-old defender—making one of only a handful of his Premier League starts—reacted quickest to a loose ball in the box and guided it past Dean Henderson for the decisive 1-0 win.
Champions League Secured—Again
That solitary strike was enough to confirm Chelsea’s return to next season’s Champions League, as Enzo Maresca’s young side finished fourth in the Premier League.
Relief and celebration rippled through the away end at full time, where substitutes and staff spilled onto the turf in jubilation.
Why it mattered: Qualification not only restores revenue and prestige but also shapes Chelsea’s upcoming transfer strategy—Maresca has already indicated that “our transfer targets depend on which competitions we’ll be in next season.”
Nottingham Forest’s European Consolation
Despite the defeat, Nottingham Forest secured a spot in the Europa Conference League by finishing seventh—an impressive feat for a club only three years removed from a 23-year absence from the top flight.
Forest’s surge included two crucial late-season wins, though they ultimately slipped from the top four after an inconsistent run.
A Tight, Tactically Cautious Battle
The match scarcely lived up to its high stakes in the first half. Pedro Neto and Chris Wood both rose to meet crosses only to see headers flash over the bar.
Chelsea, organised and patient, soaked up pressure until their breakthrough just after the interval.
Forest pressed for an equaliser—Wood squandered a close-range chance in stoppage time—but could not carve out a clear opportunity.
The hosts end the season unbeaten in their final matchday bid yet winless in four at the City Ground.
Double European Week
Chelsea can now switch focus to Wednesday’s Europa Conference League final against Real Betis in Poland, an unexpected shot at continental silverware mere days before the new Champions League group stage draw.
Maresca’s faith in youth is underlined by Chelsea’s record-young starting XI, which averaged just 24 years and 36 days in the Premier League this season—his youngest ever.
