Taiwo Awoniyi used his post-match press conference on 4 May 2026 to highlight the collective effort behind Nottingham Forest’s 3-1 Premier League victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, refusing to take personal credit despite scoring twice on a landmark occasion.
The Nigeria international’s brace came in his 100th appearance for the Tricky Trees — a milestone rendered all the more significant given the injury disruptions that have severely restricted his availability throughout the current campaign. Manager Vítor Pereira handed Awoniyi a rare starting berth as part of a squad rotation strategy designed to manage workload ahead of the club’s Europa League semi-final commitments.
“Football is a team game, everyone needs to be ready and it’s not about everyone starting it’s about the team,” Awoniyi told reporters, per the BBC. “We came here with the mentality to win, good ball from [Dilane] Bakwa as well and the way we started the game, we had more of the ball, brilliant from the team.”
Awoniyi opened the scoring with a header in the 2nd minute, set up by a precise cross from winger Dilane Bakwa. He went on to complete his brace before singling out the backroom staff for specific recognition. “Kudos to the manager and the staff — not only the people on the ground but the nutritionists, physio. It’s all about the team and looking forward to the next game. I believe it could be an amazing season for us,” he added.
The acknowledgement of Forest’s medical and support departments carries particular weight given the striker’s well-documented injury struggles this season, which have drastically limited his Premier League starts. His return to decisive form at Stamford Bridge represented one of the more timely contributions of the campaign.
For Nottingham Forest, the result carried major implications on two separate fronts. The away win lifted the club to 16th place in the Premier League table, placing them six points above the relegation zone and providing meaningful relief in what has been a tense battle to preserve their top-flight status.
Simultaneously, Forest remain active in European competition. The club hold a 1-0 advantage from the first leg of their Europa League semi-final and will look to progress when the second leg takes place on Thursday. Should they advance, it would mark a continuation of one of English football’s more remarkable recent stories — Forest having returned to the Premier League in 2022 after a 23-year absence and now competing across two fronts deep into May.
Awoniyi’s performance against Chelsea will further fuel the debate around his importance to Forest when fit. The 27-year-old striker, who joined the club permanently after a loan spell, has often been a central figure in Nottingham’s attacking play when available, and Sunday’s display underlined why Pereira’s medical and fitness staff have been so central to keeping him on the pitch.
