Nottingham

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Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels says it is about "commitment" not structure when defending set pieces.

The 32-year-old joined the Reds on deadline day in February and went on to feature 16 times in the Premier League, conceding 27 goals.

Nearly a third of all Forest's goals conceded last season came from set pieces, with no team in the league letting in more than their 22.

"We tried to change the structure - man against man, zonal - in the end it is not about the structure it is about commitment," he told BBC East Midlands Today.

"I'm not saying that we didn't do it well last season but in the the end it was crazy, we always took a goal from the set piece.

"In football, set plays and set pieces are important. We need to improve this for next season. Last season every week we were working on it but we still conceded goals on it.

"There was not really something that we could do better, maybe just commitment, so maybe this season we won't concede that many more goals like that."

Despite becoming Nuno Espirito Santo's number one keeper last campaign, Sels will face competition for his position this season with the arrival of 6ft 8in Brazilian Carlos Miguel.

Asked who will be number one Sels said: "I don't know. I did my job last season. The coach will always decide.

"Matt Turner, Miguel, me, there is good competition between us and in the end it is important to have competition between keepers.

"We are good with each other and, most important, it is always [about] the team and the coach will decide. But I did my job last season so we will see what happens this season."

David Lockwood
BBC Sport Editorial Sustainability Lead

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Los Angeles or Chesterfield? San Diego or Salford?

The pre-season destinations of 20 Premier League clubs may be varied, but the issue remains the same - the impact of so many flights.

Half (10) of the clubs have flown to the United States for friendlies; three have travelled to the Far East and the rest are in Europe and the UK.

Manchester United's pre-season schedule see them flying almost 13,000 miles playing fixtures in Norway, Scotland, and across the US. Chelsea and Tottenham are also expected to fly in excess of 12,000 miles.

In contrast, Everton will fly the least, with just one fixture outside the UK in the Republic of Ireland.

Spurs and Newcastle also played an exhibition fixture in May - three days after the season finished - for which they both flew to Melbourne, Australia, a game Alan Shearer described as “madness”. Add in those air miles and both teams will have travelled in excess of 30,000 air miles in the close-season, equivalent to more than once around the globe, to play in non-competitive matches.

Newcastle and Spurs both have a target to be Net Zero by 2030, while Manchester United and Chelsea are in process of establishing an emissions reduction plan.

Net Zero requires the reduction and removal of all 'non-essential emissions' - so are these games essential?

Wycombe's David Wheeler is a leading sustainability campaigner in football and told BBC Sport: "These games are only necessary in the sense that the clubs want to make more money and grow their fan base".

He added: "The vast majority of players don't want to be away from their families, they don't want to be travelling around the world after a full slog of a season. They're overworked and injuries have gone through the roof, so there is a synergy between player welfare and planetary welfare."

An estimated travelling group of 30 flying 12,864 air miles business class generates around 200 tonnes of CO2 - the equivalent of 500,000 miles driven by an average petrol car, or the entire annual emissions for a year of 16 people in the UK.

Tottenham said it is "committed to minimising its environmental impact" in all its operations, "which will take time and effort". The club says it "ensures" all teams travel "as sustainably as possible throughout the season". It "measures, manages and reports on travel emissions" and will offsets "where possible."

Read more about the Premier League's pre-season air miles here

We asked for your views on Nottingham Forest's 1-0 friendly defeat to Elche.

Coxsy got in touch and said: I think Nuno must be hammering the point to the chairman about needing a new striker and winger.

Playing Ui-jo, Dennis and Bowler upfront doesn't give me much hope for the season if we get a few injuries. Big mention for Sangare and Dominguez as a midfield two - they've been stand-out players. That said, I am not liking the 3-4-3 system.

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Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood spoke to the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast about manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who is entering his first full season at the club:

"I think a full pre-season really helps for a manager to get his ideas across and that's why he was keen to have everyone here for the full six weeks.

"It's never going to be easy when you're trying to learn something different. We're halfway through pre-season now so we've still got time to get comfortable with it. It's going in the right direction."

On the Forest squad, Wood added: "At the moment it's more settled. You've got to keep the group together and you want to work with a number that you're used to. The turnover of players makes it hard to get consistency, so if we can keep the core group and keep ticking over together, I think it will be great step forward."

On new signing Nikola Milenkovic, Wood said: "He's a big lad and he's got some good feet, we're lucky to have him. He's shown what he's about so it will be interesting to see him more in games. I think the four singings we've made have been very astute."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone in Los Angeles
Chief football news reporter

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Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien is on the brink of returning to Major League Soccer on loan with LAFC.

O’Brien spent the first half of the 2023 MLS campaign with DC United after a proposed deadline day move to Blackburn fell through and there was no room in Forest’s first-team squad.

The 25-year-old former Huddersfield man spent last term at Middlesbrough.

However, as he is not part of new Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo’s plans either, O’Brien has taken up the option of another stint in MLS and sources confirmed O’Brien has flown to the United States to complete the move.

LAFC are currently second behind city rivals LA Galaxy in the western conference of MLS and are looking to secure a second title in three years.

The Premier League season is fast approaching and clubs are continuing their pre-season preparations.

Here are the teams in action on a busy Saturday.

All times BST

What did you make of the Reds' latest pre-season game?

Let us know your thoughts on the match here, external

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Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga says the "sky is the limit" and only he can stop himself from getting to where he wants to be.

The 22-year-old joined the Reds from Manchester United in July 2023 and played 39 games in all competitions, scoring five goals and providing nine assists.

"It's all about learning. Trying to find the 1% to try to improve and get better," he told BBC East Midlands Today. "I've always said I'm not the finished article, I can always improve and get better.

"This is why I'm grateful to be here at Nottingham Forest because it gives me the opportunity to grow as a player and a person. I have fantastic players and staff to help me grow and now it is up to me.

"It is me against me and the only person that will stop me from going where I want to go is myself. If I can continue to listen and work hard then the sky is the limit."

The Sweden international, who came through the United academy, was a key player in Nuno Espirito Santo's side as they avoided regulation, but now hopes to take his game to another level this campaign.

"I can get faster, I can score more goals, I can set up more goals," Elanga added.

"I've got to remember last season was my first season playing over 36 games. I feel like I needed that so I can then build up for the new season knowing I'm ready and can play 36 games a season.

"I feel more experienced and more involved. This season will be different. I've taken what I've learned from last season and tweaked my game a bit more so I can be even better this season."