Nottingham Forest striker Igor Jesus has made it clear that personal ambition takes a backseat to team success, firmly dismissing any narrative of a bitter rivalry with teammate Liam Delap.
Following Forest’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park—a result that secured the club’s first three points of the Premier League season—the Brazilian forward opened up about his role in Oliver Glasner’s squad. While Jesus has had to accept a substitute role in recent outings while £45 million summer arrival Liam Delap locks down the starting center-forward position, he proved his immense value in the West Midlands by stepping off the bench to score a sensational 88th-minute winner.
Embracing Squad Depth and Healthy Competition
Addressing the media after his heroics, Jesus praised Delap and emphasized that the healthy dynamic within the dressing room is designed to push everyone forward rather than create division.
“He’s a good player. It’s not about competition,” Jesus told reporters when asked about battling Delap for minutes. “It’s good for us because we have many quality players. We have to fight for our positions, as we do every day in training. We’re happy because everyone gives their best every day. We’re together to win the games.”
Rather than competing strictly for the sole central striker spot, Jesus and Delap also possess the tactical versatility to feature alongside each other in Oliver Glasner’s system. Jesus is fully capable of slotting into one of the two attacking No.10 roles behind the main striker. That tactical flexibility was on full display against Aston Villa, where a clever piece of play—highlighted by a delightful backheel from teammate Morgan Gibbs-White—unlocked the defense and allowed Jesus to open his account for the Premier League campaign in style.
Opening His Premier League Account
Reflecting on his telepathic link-up with Gibbs-White on the training ground and during matchdays, Jesus expressed immense satisfaction at finally breaking his duck in England’s top flight.
“Every day at the club we try to do the same,” Jesus told Brazilian publication Globo Esporte. “We are happy with the result. We fight all the time and take advantage of the opportunities. This is my first goal of the Premier League season. We know how important this is for us. We’ve secured our first three points and I’m very happy to score my first Premier League goal and help my team achieve their first victory.”
The match at Villa Park had been a tense, end-to-end affair. Liam Delap initially opened the scoring for the visitors before Villa fought back to equalize through Alysson. With the clock winding down and a share of the spoils looking likely, Jesus popped up in the 88th minute to fire home the decisive goal, handing manager Oliver Glasner his maiden Premier League victory at the helm of Forest.
With the international break approaching and morale sky-high following their crucial West Midlands escape, the collective mindset shown by players like Igor Jesus proves that Nottingham Forest’s squad depth could be their greatest asset in the grueling months ahead.
