“Playing or not” – Nottingham Forest boss reveals why Chelsea nemesis Taiwo Awoniyi is special

Nottingham Forest head coach Vítor Pereira has heaped praise on Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi following his standout performance against Chelsea on Monday, Soccernet.ng reports.

​Awoniyi was handed a rare start for Forest's trip to Stamford Bridge and seized the opportunity with both hands.

The Nigerian forward opened the scoring for the Tricky Trees in just the second minute before winning the penalty that Igor Jesus converted in the 15th minute.

​The striker’s dominance continued in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Awoniyi latched onto a low cross from Morgan Gibbs-White, poking the ball home to give Forest a commanding three-goal lead.

His contributions proved decisive, securing a vital 3-1 victory and marking a significant personal milestone: his 100th appearance for the club.

​Pereira Impressed by Taiwo Awoniyi’s Resilience

​This victory comes at a critical juncture for Nottingham Forest as they balance a Premier League relegation battle with a deep run in the UEFA Europa League.

​Awoniyi’s inclusion in the starting XI was partly a tactical rotation; Pereira sought to rest key players ahead of the Europa League semifinal second leg against Aston Villa on Thursday. However, the Super Eagles star delivered to devastating effect, giving his manager a welcome selection headache for the final games of the campaign.

​Following the match, Pereira lauded Awoniyi’s professionalism and unwavering positive attitude despite his recent lack of regular minutes.

​”To this day, I have never seen Taiwo without a smile,” Pereira said.

“Every day, whether he is playing or not, he is the same person, the same fighter—possessing the same spirit and the same energy. I had no doubt he would perform. I told him before the game that he would score today, and he went out and scored two. I am delighted for him.”

​Despite his heroics at Stamford Bridge, Awoniyi remains ineligible for Forest’s Europa League fixtures as he was not included in the registered squad for the competition. Consequently, the striker will focus his efforts entirely on the Premier League as he looks to finish the season on a high for the Tricky Trees.