Exclusively Revealed: Nottingham Forest Captain Joe Worrall Makes Shocking Statement on Premier League Survival vs Promotion After 23 Years Away!

Nottingham Forest's return to the Premier League in the 2022/23 season was anticipated to be eventful given the 23-year gap since their previous appearance. From an outsider's perspective, the team's aggressive transfer strategy, the demanding expectations placed on manager Steve Cooper, and their role in preventing Arsenal from winning the league undoubtedly caused a surge in the blood pressure of devoted Tricky Trees supporters.

In an exclusive interview with We, Joe Worrall, a passionate fan of Boyhood and the present captain, reflects on the challenges faced during that campaign. With a relaxed demeanor, he openly discusses both the critical aspects and the positives. He acknowledges the high expectations that come with his role and reveals that life in the Premier League was not a gradual realization.

We quickly realized the significant gap in skill between the Championship and the Premier League as we started competing at full force. However, we gradually adapted and showcased our abilities exceptionally well. Our home matches were particularly memorable, as we achieved notable victories against Arsenal and played a significant role in Man City winning the title.

The importance of that particular game cannot be overstated. It allowed us to maintain our Premier League position after being absent for a considerable amount of time. Despite the challenges presented by numerous player signings and a tumultuous season, we successfully accomplished our goal with both style and efficiency.

Forest always has high expectations, including the expectation for us to stay in the league. However, it would have been a dream to have a higher position in the league with fewer games remaining. The manner in which everything unfolded was in line with the course of our season. Despite being dismissed by pundits, media, and even some fans who believed we were bound to fail, the core group always held onto their belief and ultimately emerged victorious.

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Steve Cooper's team faces Arsenal in the first weekend of the Premier League season. Considering the relegation odds for last season, Forest were among the top contenders to drop back to the Championship.

Beating those odds and proving doubters wrong made it all the sweeter for Worrall.

"Last season trumps the promotion season, for me," he says, with certainty.

The team, the manager and his staff, the entire club, the city, and the fans have all achieved a monumental feat, considering the challenges we faced, the undisclosed events that occurred behind the scenes, which remained unknown to both the media and the supporters. This accomplishment holds great significance, especially for those fans who had endured hardships throughout different phases of the season.

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The 26-year-old is approaching 200 league appearances for Forest

The pundits and the media are simply fulfilling their professional duties, so no ill feelings or resentments are directed towards any individual in particular.

However, we are constantly perceived as the team most likely to be relegated, based on the articles being circulated and the opinions voiced by pundits. It should be noted that they are unaware of the full extent of what transpires on a daily basis.

"We were confident in our abilities to remain in the league; it simply took some time to determine the most effective approach to securing positive outcomes. The previous season's efforts have been concluded, allowing ample time for reflection and analysis. However, our focus now lies on survival, leaving little room for dwelling. Instead, we must prioritize learning from our mistakes and making necessary improvements."

When asked if he and his teammates can draw inspiration from Brentford's successful second season in the top flight last year, Worrall dismisses the idea without hesitation. He confidently declares that their focus is solely on themselves and that, as a collective, they do not look to emulate or be influenced by any other team.

"We are Nottingham Forest, a truly unique club - a revered institution, one might say. While we acknowledge the success achieved by teams like Brentford, we must emphasize that our football club is in a league of its own, fundamentally distinct from them."

As the conversation shifts, attention is drawn to Forest's recruitment during the previous season. Remarkably, the club acquired an impressive total of 19 permanent signings during the summer, supplemented by three loan players. This was followed by the addition of five more permanent signings and two loan players in January."

The squad upheaval undoubtedly had an impact on the campaign's result. The 26-year-old understands and recognizes this, emphasizing the importance of turnover for overall progress and enhancement.

"Without a doubt, the atmosphere is much calmer now compared to last season due to the influx of new players. When we were promoted, we had to fill the gaps left by those we lost. However, this season, our squad is more solid and consistent."

I've previously emphasized the importance of Forest's continuous evolution and the need for improvement. This mindset of striving for better is constantly at the forefront. To achieve this, we require new players to join the team and contribute in order to stabilize our core group.

The individuals who decide to join us must fully grasp two crucial aspects: the significance of playing for Forest and the objective of achieving success in the league, as we experienced last season.

"We believe both the fans and players are fully supportive of this initiative as it is crucial for us to progress and not remain stagnant. Our focus is constantly on moving forward, rather than dwelling on the past. We have complete confidence in the process. This Saturday, Forest will embark on their second season in the Premier League and kick-start it with a visit to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal."

Forest will be prepared to face an Arsenal team seeking revenge after the prior loss in May, which stripped them of the title for the final time. Although the Gunners have suffered defeat in their last three visits to the City Ground, they have emerged victorious in both return matches with impressive 5-0 victories. In addition, Forest's upcoming schedule includes encounters with both Manchester teams and Chelsea before the end of September.

"Arsenal will undoubtedly seek revenge," he concedes.

"Hopefully, the forthcoming match won't be as astonishing as our previous experience there last season. We acknowledge Arsenal's commendable performance in recent years and their tactical approach to games. However, they should be mindful that we are determined and significantly improved compared to last year."

As a player on the pitch, it doesn't really matter when you face these teams. Ultimately, you will have to play against them at some stage. Therefore, you simply hope that they have not had as successful a start and preparation as we have.

Ideally, it would be preferable to face them when they are not in top form, rather than when they have already achieved several victories and are determined to climb up the standings. However, this situation applies to us as well.

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The Reds' sole away victory last season occurred in January against Southampton. However, Worrall is particularly candid about Forest's performance at home last season. They achieved only one league win, a 1-0 victory against Southampton on January 4, and accumulated a mere eight points from 19 away matches.

The slightest improvement in this term would significantly boost their chances of survival.

"The away form last season was not just poor; it was downright embarrassing. We managed to compensate for it last year due to our strong performance at home," he remarks.

We have given serious consideration to this matter. Our focus is on the strategy of games, particularly how we handle the transitions between different locations and the start and half-time breaks. We have noticed a tendency to concede goals late in the halves, and we have taken steps to address this issue.

However, it is important to note that we have not yet played any away games this season, so we cannot make any judgments based on last season. What truly matters is how we approach the start of this season.