English-Ghanaian Callum Hudson-Odoi admits Forest ‘made it difficult’ against Fenerbahçe

Nottingham Forest winger Callum Hudson-Odoi acknowledged his side complicated matters for themselves during a tense Europa League playoff clash against Fenerbahçe S.K., despite ultimately securing qualification to the next round.

Forest advanced 4-2 on aggregate after suffering a 2-1 defeat in the second leg, a match that tested their composure and defensive discipline for long spells.

Hudson-Odoi’s decisive strike proved vital in stabilising the contest after momentum threatened to swing fully in the Turkish side’s favour.

Reflecting on the encounter, the England international admitted Forest allowed unnecessary pressure to build but praised the team’s resilience in responding when it mattered most.

“We made it difficult for ourselves sometimes. We showed a great reaction after they scored the second goal. You could tell we wanted to get the goal, which we did,” he said.

The visitors struggled to impose their usual attacking rhythm early in the second half after conceding, forcing them into a reactive spell.

The English international of Ghanaian descent stressed that rediscovering their identity through aggressive pressing and confident ball progression helped restore control.

“We needed to up the levels a bit and focus on what we know best, which is us playing football and going to win the ball with a high press. We were unfortunate to concede early in the second half but we reacted very well.”

His goal arrived from instinct rather than elaborate build-up play, underlining Forest’s determination to regain initiative at a critical stage.

“I looked at it and just thought I had to get a shot off, hopefully getting it on target. I’m happy with that – it’s just unfortunate we couldn’t get the result,” he added.

Fullback Neco Williams echoed similar sentiments, admitting Forest anticipated a difficult atmosphere and aggressive start from their opponents. While the defeat on the night exposed vulnerabilities, progression remains the overriding achievement.