Newcastle United

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, speaking after sealing Champions League qualification: "It feels great, the achievement is huge. Naturally, when you lose the game there's a feeling of disappointment but I think we have to override that with [the fact that] over the 38 games, we deserved to qualify for the competition. It's a huge moment for the club."

On finding out Newcastle had qualified: "We were getting updated but I didn't want it to dominate my focus. It was only when it looked like we were struggling to score in that second half and our result was in jeopardy that the other results became more important for us, but all the way through the game we were still trying to find a way to score and claw ourselves a way back into the game.

"I think there was a point with about five minutes to go that it looked like barring an amazing last five or 10 minutes, we were there."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at St James' Park

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle United sealed their golden ticket to the Champions League despite Everton securing a deserved victory at St James' Park.

Eddie Howe's side started the day in fourth place in the Premier League and on course for Europe's elite competition, but looked in danger of missing out as they produced a performance riddled with nerves.

Everton were more composed, taking the lead through Carlos Alcaraz's header after 65 minutes.

Newcastle's supporters were in a state of high anxiety until news filtered through that Manchester United were ahead against Aston Villa, sparking scenes of wild delight inside St James' Park when the final result of that game came through.

Defeat means the Magpies end the season in fifth place, edging out Aston Villa on goal difference - enough to secure a place in the Champions League next season.

Newcastle United

Meanwhile, we will continue to cover the news from the clubs who have qualified for the men's Champions League - and we now head north, to St. James' Park...

Arsenal

As well as the Premier League, the weekend just gone also saw Arsenal win the Women's Champions League.

A remarkable achievement, they defeated reigning champions Barcelona 1-0 in Lisbon thanks to a strike from Stina Blackstenius.

Arsenal are the first English side to win the title since the Gunners themselves did so in 2007, 18 years ago.

They are holding a trophy parade today, and we have a dedicated live for that which you can find here.

Image source, Getty Images

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nuno was given the faith to build, but there was no talk of Europe before this season.

The plan was to take a step forward and avoid a relegation battle, because you cannot become an established or growing Premier League side while fighting the drop.

Pushing into the top half was in mind, not becoming a European contender. Forest knew they had good players, and sources have dismissed suggestions this season has been a surprise, labelling it as - understandably - pleasing instead.

The clear and precise summer transfer plan was in contrast to when they returned to the Premier League in 2022 - after a 23-year absence, they signed 23 players.

Last summer Forest were surgical in their approach. They were clear with what they wanted, with a plan to lower the age bracket but also build on the character already at the club.

The Champions League would have added extra revenue and therefore more financial wriggle room, but Forest's transfer plans do not hinge on joining the elite.

Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Football Daily

The big compliment you can pay Matz Sels, I don't think he's technically one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League. But you look at another stat this season, which is what I like to look at, is the amount of saves he's made and the biggest stat I like, save to shot per cent ratio - that's how you can judge a goalkeeper.

Selz has won the Golden Glove, but he's also second in the number of saves he's made. So, he's not only relied on the brilliance of Milenkovic and Murillo in front of him and the defence being solid and the team being organised, he's had to make a number of saves to contribute to that. You've got to take your hat off to him, he's had a fantastic season.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

After keeping 13 clean sheets across the Premier League season, the Golden Glove has been shared between Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels and Arsenal's David Raya.

"It's a big achievement so I'm really happy but not only for me but for the team," Sels told Sky Sports.

"When I came last year, I came in a difficult situation. This kind of achievement is always from the team. It's the same if a striker scorers a lot of goals."

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "After a game like this and the things that happened on the pitches, we didn't achieve the dream.

"We are proud and we go again. You know that one goal can change everything. the improvement of the players is huge, the platform of the club is good. If you ask me, it's a good season because of the commitment of the players.

"I have to thank the players for their commitment. When you give everything you have, you cannot say anything about it.

"We started well and controlled the game. Second half, we rushed and the anxiety didn't help us. It was not enough.

"They were good chances for us. It was there - we didn't achieve it. It's hard when it was in your hands in the end and it doesn't go your way.

"There are many things that happen during the season. It is not always possible to be better than the other teams. We wanted to go for the game today so the boys did well. It is a tough competition.

"All the circumstances that happened didn't help, but that is not an excuse. I felt we were there. I'm very proud of the boys and all I can do is thank them."

Image source, Getty Images

Next season will see Nottingham Forest involved in a European competition for the first time since 1995-96, when they reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals under Frank Clark.

Forest captain Ryan Yates, speaking to BBC Sport's Nick Mashiter about Nuno's impact: "It started the moment he walked through the door. He gave us that consistency.

"He came in at an extremely difficult point in the season where relegation and the point deduction looked like it could happen. It was tough for us as a group but we got through that and we said to ourselves in pre-season it can never happen again."

On the training ground revamp, including more catering staff, different meals and a new open-plan canteen: "It's all fillet steak! The small things that really do make a difference. That obviously comes from the owner's investment and where he sees the football club going.

"Not only have the players bought into that, but also the staff. If the staff are happy, that's going to ultimately help the players as well."

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

That Forest were even in contention for the Champions League seemed a fantasy after beating the drop on the final day a year ago. In reality, the foundations for success were laid last summer.

In Spain, Nuno Espirito Santo's plans which would take the club back to Europe for the first time since 1996 were initiated.

The chaos and confusion at the end of last season - from four-point deductions to controversial social media posts and final-day survival - were forgotten.

A team meal at the Odiseo restaurant in Murcia, with the squad and staff, quickly generated the unity which has catapulted Forest to the Conference League.

Pre-season is always important but, internally, there was a sense the summer was crucial given it was Nuno's first with the squad.

He had already built relationships in the previous six months since replacing Steve Cooper in December 2023, but it was the opportunity to double down on that unity which Nuno puts so much emphasis on.

Image source, Getty Images

Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on the Football Daily podcast

It is fantastic to see what Forest have done this season. At the beginning of the campaign, I had them to just avoid relegation! Fans would have bitten your hand off for European football too.

But with success comes expectation. When you are in the top four for eight weeks or longer, people expect Champions League football. So when you don't get it, it is a slight disappointment.

I think a place in the Conference League is still a brilliant season.

Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on the Football Daily podcast

They got five points from a possible 21 in the final bunch of games and their change in home form will be one thing they will be disappointed in.

Forest have been quite happy with the opposition having the ball this season and them playing on the counter attack, but they went all-out against Chelsea to win the game in the first half.

The game changed very quickly in the second half when Chelsea got the goal and Forest went a lot more direct and just lumping it to Chris Wood. There was no rhythm despite all the attacking players being on the pitch.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

The disappointment of the final few weeks should not overshadow what has been a renaissance at Nottingham Forest, who return to Europe for the first time since 1996.

They ran out of steam, the last few weeks of the season proving too much for a side who looked like they would reach the Champions League in March.

Any recency bias could suggest the season has ended in failure but scatter the results through the entire season and finishing seventh is exceptional.

Nuno Espirito Santo has helped shape a squad that bounces off each other, where the players enjoy their team-mates' company - and that has been evident on the pitch.

The Conference League may not bring the riches of the Champions League, but Forest now go into a European competition with a viable chance of winning it - and an opportunity to build on the exceptional efforts of this season.

Michael Brown
Former Tottenham midfielder on BBC Football Daily

We started talking about Chelsea going towards the title, and they weren't good enough, had a massive decline and pressure started to mount with the home supporters regards to how they were playing, how they were developing.

They've got some wonderful young talent, but they found some gritty performances when needed. They've done the job.

Image source, Getty Images

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Enzo Maresca was asked last week whether Cole Palmer deserves to play in the Champions League.

"Absolutely yes, I don't think Cole is the only player who deserves, I think Moi [Moises Caicedo] also, Enzo Fernandez and Levi Colwill deserves Champions League. We have many players in terms of status deserve to play in the Champions League."

That sense of deserving to be there was a double-edged sword for Chelsea in a bid to keep players at the top end of their squad happy.

Similarly, fringe players grew frustrated only playing Conference League matches at the beginning of the season.

There ended up being one team for Europe's third-tier competition, featuring players like Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix, Axel Disasi and Renato Veiga - all of who either left or explored leaving in January.

It could help those on the fringes to now offer Champions League football instead of the Conference League, but those players will also have to get used to playing much higher-level opposition.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea captain Reece James, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "It is an amazing feeling.

"We knew coming here on the final day would be tough. They have had an amazing season - they have so much threat going forward.

"We had to dig in. We both needed to win, but I am so happy that the team got the job done today.

"We talk about being the best team-mate and everybody showed that today.

"So many people before the season, during the season had disbelief - they told us 'we were you young, inexperienced and were not going to make it'. But we are here."