FOREST LEANING ON LUCK
HERNANDEZ BUZZING ABOUT BEING A
Barnsley v Nottingham Forest
SABRI LAMOUCHI has reminded Nottingham Forest’s support how lucky they are – and asked for trust.
The City Ground chief takes his play-off chasing side to Oakwell reminding his own fans it wasn’t so long ago they were facing the drop.
Four games with no victory has seen Forest stagger to the finishing line, but the ex-Inter Milan midfielder (above) is sure he remains “lucky” and supporters should keep faith.
Victory over the Tykes, propping up the rest of the Championship, would cement Forest’s place in the play-offs, despite their recent run.
Lamouchi said: “This is a fantastic situation for us.
“I’d like to remind Forest fans that only three years ago, the club was exactly where Barnsley find themselves now.
“A lot of the players know the situation Forest were in. So, we have to be focused and dream.
“But the fans have to trust in the players like I trust in them.
“It may be a crazy times with so many games – but it’s also a good time because we cannot forget how lucky we are.”
Forest forward Sammy Ameobi has still warned his club-mates that they can’t take anything for granted against the Tykes. He said: “Everyone saw Barnsley against Leeds – they gave them a really tough time.”
FoRMER Leeds striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink insists that his heart will always belong to Elland Road.
The Dutchman, who became a cult hero for the Yorkshire club during two seasons wearing the famous white shirt, says he feels more love for Leeds than any of his old teams.
And that’s why he is delighted that Marcelo Bielsa’s men have sealed their return to the Premier League after a 16-year absence – and as Championship champions.
Hasselbaink, 48, played for 10 clubs during his career – including Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Middesbrough, Charlton and Cardiff.
But he feels his strongest affinity for Leeds – despite his bitter departure from Elland Road in the summer of 1999.
Hasselbaink said: “Things really took off for me when I arrived at Leeds United.
“My style was appreciated and, with the help of Leeds, I got into the Dutch national team and I went to the World Cup in France.
“Leeds is the only club that really matters for everyone in Yorkshire.
“It is fascinating to see how much they love the club and how proud they are of their team.
“In London, you have so many professional football clubs. In Manchester, you have City and United. In Liverpool, you have Liverpool and Everton.
“But Leeds only has Leeds United. When you are born in Leeds, you are Leeds till you die.”
Leeds face Derby today – the team that last season ended Bielsa’s promotion dream in the play-offs – secure in the knowledge they will be mixing it with the big boys next season.
And Hasselbaink reckons the club will thrive in the Premier League.
He said: “I always saw the passion for the club in the stands whenever I was playing.
“It is a special place and a special football ground. The atmosphere at Elland Road you find nowhere else in the Premier League.
“You don’t hear more noise anywhere else than at Leeds. I find it an intimidating stadium – and I know better than anyone because I also played there when I was a striker with Chelsea.
“The ground always seems to be bursting with people, no matter what level the club was
PABLO HERNANDEZ was known as one of the four ‘bajitos’ (little men) at Valencia along with David Silva, Juan Mata and David Villa.
It was some quartet, with Silva moving on to Manchester City, Mata playing for Chelsea and
Manchester United and Villa winning at Barcelona. Now, at 35, Hernandez (left) is one of the main reasons why Leeds United are back in the top flight after a 16-year exile, going up as champions.
The Spaniard – one of the crown jewels of the Mestalla – could have joined Silva at Manchester City, who expressed a strong interest, as did Liverpool, who had a bid rejected. Instead, two seasons later he ended up at Swansea City for a club-record £5.5million, with the club in the Premier League.
He helped them win the League Cup only to surprisingly opt to leave for Qatari club Al-Arabi.
Following a loan spell back in Spain with Rayo Vallecano, it was former Swans boss Garry Monk who brought him to Elland Road four years ago. Monk, now Sheffield
Wednesday boss, recalled: “He is a quality above in the Championship – it’s why I took him to Leeds. He is one of the best players in the league, especially offensively.
“The relationship I had with him at Swansea was a factor in him arriving at Leeds. He is one of a number of Leeds players who have the quality to play at a higher level. They have shown that this season.”