Nottingham Forest striker Igor Jesus discusses his Brazil and Europa League ambitions ahead of the Reds’ clash with Porto
Nottingham Forest’s Igor Jesus(Image: Getty)
Striker Igor Jesus has not given up on his World Cup dream, and he knows he needs to keep playing well for Nottingham Forest to be in with a chance of getting there.
The 25-year-old is joint top scorer in this season’s Europa League and will hope to add to his haul of seven goals in Thursday’s quarter-final first leg away to Porto (8pm kick-off). The Premier League has proved a tougher nut to crack but Jesus has still found the net three times in the division as he continues to find his feet in English football.
The Brazilian has five caps to his name for his country. He would love to add a few more by making the cut for this summer’s World Cup.
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“That is the result of the work we do,” Jesus said when asked about the prospect of making Brazil’s squad. “I have been preparing very well and doing a good job.
“I always try to help my colleagues the best way possible and I hope I can keep doing it. To be among the players (going) to the World Cup, it would be a dream. I think I have the skills for it but it will result from what I do here, too.”
In the meantime, Jesus’ immediate focus is on helping the Reds in their bid to reach a European semi-final. He may well come up against compatriot and former Chelsea defender Thiago Silva at the Estadio do Dragao
“He is a top centre-back, but I don’t care about that,” Jesus said. “I just want to do my best and help the team.
“He is a good player but we have so many good players. We can do our best tomorrow and win the game.
“We have prepared very well. We know our quality and we know what we can do, and we know we can do it.
“I’m really, really happy to be top scorer (in the Europa League). It is not easy to be there. I always work and give my best to help the team. Tomorrow we have an important game and we can do it.
“We have been preparing very well to show our strengths. We have many high quality players.”
In the absence of the injured Chris Wood – who could be in line for his comeback in Portugal – Jesus has had plenty of minutes in the Garibaldi this season. Head coach Vitor Pereira has been impressed by what the summer signing has been capable of.
“He is a top player,” the Reds boss said of Jesus. “It is not the first time I have said to him he has everything to be a top scorer and to play at the top level.
“He has technical quality, he is intelligent, he has the true spirit. It is not only in attack, it is defending to help the team. It is an honour for me to work with this type of player.”
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