Igor Jesus
Igor Jesus has been making waves for Nottingham Forest, establishing himself as a crucial player in both the Premier League and Europa League. The 25-year-old has scored seven goals in the European competition, sharing the top spot on the scoreboard. However, his journey to becoming a regular starter was not straightforward, as he had to seize his opportunity following an injury to teammate Chris Wood.
Igor Jesus said: “I had two or three games on the bench, then (Chris) Wood got a knee injury and the opportunity came. From that moment, I started confirming my place in the team. I came with the mentality to play, because a lot of players arrive here and don’t play in their first year. I didn’t have a holiday. But I prepared myself a lot more when I saw the level here is very high; I told my personal trainer exactly what I needed to improve.”
Igor Jesus continued: “When I arrived, the players were all strong and quick – it felt like I was years behind. I feel much better now and I’ve improved a lot. The manager’s trust is essential for you to keep evolving.”
The knee injury to Chris Wood, who was Forest’s leading scorer last season, sidelined him for nearly six months, allowing Jesus to step up as a regular starter. Jesus was thrust into the spotlight and had to quickly adapt to the fast-paced nature of the Premier League.
Igor Jesus remarked: “What impressed me the most was the speed of the game. It’s very fast, and you have only small seconds to make decisions. Before the ball arrives, you already have to think what you want to do. There’s always someone on you trying to win the ball or make a foul.”
Igor Jesus added: “In duels with defenders, I would hit them and they wouldn’t even move. I thought: ‘What is this? I need to improve.’”
A pivotal moment for Jesus came during a match against Manchester United, where he realized his progress after a physical challenge with Matthijs de Ligt.
Igor Jesus explained: “I collided with him and he moved, and I thought, ‘I’m improving’. That shows you have the ability to be here and live all this. It boosts your performance and helps you reach a higher level.”
The return of Chris Wood is expected to further bolster Jesus’ performance, as the duo has demonstrated their ability to work well together. In a recent 5-0 victory against Sunderland, head coach Vitor Pereira deployed Jesus in a No.10 role behind Wood, a strategy that proved effective.
Igor Jesus expressed his optimism: “He has given us a lot of confidence and shows exactly what he wants us to do on the pitch. That’s essential for development. He has experience in the Premier League and understands how things work here.”
Igor Jesus added: “It’s a huge opportunity to crown the season. Avoiding relegation in the Premier League and winning the Europa League would be a dream. But we go step by step. We know we have the quality, but Aston Villa are also a very strong team.”
With Nottingham Forest aiming to secure Premier League safety and eyeing Europa League glory, Igor Jesus remains hopeful for a memorable end to the season, driven by the impact of manager Vitor Pereira.
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