Colin Fray
BBC Radio Nottingham

There's a general feeling in football that qualification for European football, while a massive incentive and achievement, does bring with it the potentially major pitfall of having a negative impact on the domestic season.

I think there's little doubt that if Nottingham Forest DO qualify for Europe, Nuno Espirito will be looking to add strength and depth to his squad to help them try to mitigate that potential danger.

More money would be coming into the club - significantly more if Forest were able to hang on to a Champions League spot.

But the squad would also need significant investment to become strong and deep enough to cope with the extra games and travelling, and to avoid a slump in domestic form while playing in Europe. So, more income, but more outgoings too.

Image source, Getty Images

It's 45 years since Nottingham Forest won the European Cup for the second straight season. There's been some bleak days since then - including a stint in League One - but Nuno Espirito Santo has got Forest fans dreaming of Europe again after a phenomenal season.

Will they finish it with a flourish and seal a place at European football's top table?

Nottingham Forest

Full-back Ola Aina, who is making his 50th Premier League appearance for Nottingham Forest, speaking to TNT Sports: "We are just enjoying the journey and if we're everyone else's second team it is a good look. It has been fun so far. I feel at home, the dressing room staff, the whole community have taken to me very well. I feel I've got a bit more to come from myself, but so far I think it's the most consistent I've been."

Manchester City

Image source, PA Media

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to TNT Sports: "The quality upfront, the speed, the physically - it is a top side [Nottingham Forest].

On Nico Gonzalez: "Not just him, he is important, not just him, but everyone has to support defensively for each other."

On Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden: "I think everybody knows the quality of Berny [Bernardo Silva] and Phil [Foden]."

On the game: "It is important. We want to be in the Champions League next season. We are going to try until the last second, that's for sure."

Freddie Pye
Man City fan writer

Everyone associated with Manchester City is aware of this season's struggles.

City face a monumental challenge to qualify for the Champions League so success in the FA Cup, where all the most stern challengers are already out, could arguably be viewed as the bare minimum.

But let's get things straight; while the FA Cup may not make it a good season as a whole for City, the idea of major silverware to end a campaign of disappointment remains a mouth-watering possibility.

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest

Image source, PA Media

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo, speaking to TNT Sports about drawing to Arsenal last time out in the Premier League: "I think we showed what we are as a team. We were solid and we were compact. We didn't achieve much on the offensive, but what happened before [after losing 4-3 to Newcastle] it was important to go back to how we do things."

On losing 3-0 at Man City earlier this season: "It was tough. We didn't perform so well, but we have to realise they're an amazing team and they have good players who can change the game in a minute."

On Forest's centre-back partnership Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic: "Really impressed. Nikola brought us what we needed. They compliment each other really well."

Nottingham Forest

Half an hour to kick-off.

Arsenal and Liverpool have both slipped up at the City Ground in recent weeks. Will Manchester City sink on the banks of the River Trent?

Former Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard, who has Coventry City riding high in the Championship, is on Football Focus from 12:00 GMT on BBC One.

Chelsea‘s and England defender Levi Colwill goes back to his roots, there's a look back at a dramatic midweek of Champions League action and Focus @ 50 nostalgia with Noel Gallagher and Mario Balotelli.

Alex Scott is joined in the studio by former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha and ex-Everton midfielder Leon Osman.

Nottingham Forest

6 March 2021: A 15th league defeat of the season leaves Nottingham Forest 17th in the Championship.

8 March 2025: Third in the Premier League table above the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

There is little point of whispering it quietly any more. Nottingham Forest are on the brink of something extraordinary.

Into the FA Cup quarter-finals to play Brighton after Monday's shootout victory over Ipswich and third in the Premier League, their dream season continues.

It comes just a year after being docked four points for breaching profit and sustainability rules and falling into the bottom three.

FA Cup

Will these two be meeting at Wembley in the FA Cup final on 17 May?

Both Nottingham Forest and Manchester City are in the quarter-finals, with Forest's tie at Brighton on 29 March (17:15 GMT) live on BBC One, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

City are at Bournemouth on 30 March.

Image source, Reuters

Match ticket. Tick.

Freshly ironed shirt. Tick.

Hair cut before the game. Tick.

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on Nottingham Forest's sitting third in the table: "It is quite simple. When you're third in the table with 11 games left it is because you have done really, really well. It's impressive. They defend really well, are compact and aggressive."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

This is an unusual end to the season for Manchester City.

Normally at this time, they would be juggling Premier League title and Champions League demands, usually with an FA Cup campaign thrown in as well.

This season, they are still in the FA Cup but have just had a blank midweek due to their European defeat by Real Madrid.

There is still the Club World Cup to come in June and July but now it seems we are on a slow run to the end of the season.

Manager Pep Guardiola doesn't quite see it that way.

"Pressure is always there at big clubs," he said. "You do your best, it doesn't matter what you are playing for. We accept the reality to try to finish in the top four."

Mic the refs: With Morgan Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson and Murillo, Forest have such a strong core. I think the wingers are good crossers but poor shooters. That is where they can upgrade.

Talking about who should be in the England squad, what about Forest's Elliot Anderson?

Midfielder Anderson has impressed since joining from Newcastle United last summer for a reported £35m, with the 21-year-old drawing praise from his manager, fans and team-mates for his displays.

I know Morgan Gibbs-White has been in the England squad before, but I just don't think he's been given the exposure he deserves.

We have got lots of 10s and we can argue Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer or Phil Foden should be in there, but I think Gibbs-White is different to them.

He hasn't got players around him to carry him so I think you really see his quality and he shines. You can see the difference when he is on the ball in that Forest team.

I don't think Foden has been performing well for England. If you're going off form this season and consistency, Gibbs-White has to be in there.