Nottingham Forest Season Review - Centre Backs

A look at how Forest's centre backs performed throughout the season

Nikola Milenkovic

Nottingham Forest’s Player of the Season in 2024/25, Milenkovic’s performance levels certainly dipped this time around. The chopping & changing of playing style likely didn’t help the Serbian, as he went from low-block transition football, to care-free all-out-attack, to low-block route on, and ended with Pereira’s more possession friendly style that sits somewhere in the middle.

Perhaps most disappointly though, was the complete lack of attacking threat in domestic football. Last season Milenkovic contributed 5 goals and 2 assists, this season his single goal & single assist both came in the Europa League.

He ended the season in poor form, and was outshone by each of his central defensive partners during the last few games. Forest will hope that was due to his incredibly high workload throughout the season.

Milenkovic was one of only 4 players to be available for the entire season (discounting those who joined in January). He appeared in 54 of Forest’s 56 games, playing mostly as the right sided centre back in a back 4.

His season highlight probably came at Tottenham, where he made 11 clearances in a solid performance that was massive in terms of Forest retaining their Premier League status. On the other hand, Ollie Watkins caused him plenty of trouble in the Europa League 2nd leg defeat at Villa Park.

2025/26 Plans

A summer off will hopefully do Milenkovic the world of good. He’ll also benefit from Forest’s schedule being significantly lighter next season too. He’s virtually a guarantee to be in the starting lineup on opening day, but it’s up to him to keep the shirt from Jair Cunha who will be looking to improve on his debut season in England, and from any potential summer arrival.

Murillo

The data tells us that Murillo had a very strong season for Forest, but I think it’s fair to say he’s one of many across the squad who didn’t reach the heights of last season. He seemed to have injury issues throughout the season, proven by the fact that he was never available for more than 13 games on the bounce.