The Brazilian arrived from Botafogo last summer and has quickly settled in, becoming Forest’s top scorer ahead of a tense season run-in
Nottingham Forest striker Igor Jesus has overcome a tough start to life in England, becoming a key player under Nuno Espírito Santo, and the Brazilian now has his eye on success ahead of a tense season-run in.
Having signed from Botafogo last summer, Jesus admittedly took time to settle into his new surroundings. On top of that, breaking into the starting line-up was not a given, following Chris Wood’s 20 Premier League goal season the year before.
However, after gradually becoming accustomed to English football, he is now Forest’s top scorer with 14 goals and is hoping to cap the season with Europa League glory and Premier League survival.
“I’m really happy to arrive here in my first season and achieve all this, because it’s not easy to come here and play like I have,” he told TNT Sports Brazil, in quotes from Sport Witness.
“I had two or three games on the bench, then [Chris] Wood got a knee injury and the opportunity came. From that moment, I started confirming my place in the team.”
“Being the team’s top scorer makes me happy, because many players don’t even play in their first season. I already have 14 goals, which is a significant number for me, and I want to keep improving to help Forest.”
Igor Jesus on what impressed him most about English football
On the differences between Brazilian and English football, Jesus noted the speed of the Premier League as the biggest.
“What impressed me the most was the speed of the game. It’s very fast, and you have only small seconds to make decisions,” he said.
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“Before the ball arrives, you already have to think what you want to do. There’s always someone on you trying to win the ball or make a foul.
“In duels with defenders, I would hit them and they wouldn’t even move. I thought: ‘What is this? I need to improve.’”
A turning point for Igor Jesus came on November 1, in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United at the City Ground where he went up against Matthijs de Ligt.
“It was against De Ligt, from Manchester United. I collided with him and he moved, and I thought: ‘I’m improving.’”
Nottingham Forest host Aston Villa in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday at the City Ground, and Jesus is clear on the objectives for his side between now and the end of the campaign.
“It’s a huge opportunity to crown the season. Avoiding relegation in the Premier League and winning the Europa League would be a dream,” Jesus stated.
“But we [must] go step by step. We know we have the quality, but Aston Villa are also a very strong team.
“We want to win the Europa League and stay in the Premier League.”