Nottingham Forest Captain on Their Europa League Dream & Incredible Rise Under Nuno | Ryan Yates

Ryan Yates is a Premier League midfielder and captain at Nottingham Forest, but his journey started far from the spotlight. From battling for minutes in the National League to walking out at the City Ground as skipper, Ryan’s rise has been built on resilience, hard work, and an unshakable belief in his own potential. In this episode, Ryan reflects on the mindset that carried him through tough loan spells, positional switches, and the moments he seriously questioned if he was good enough. He shares how daily affirmations and setting bold goals helped shape his path, even when the odds looked stacked against him. Ryan also gets real about the value of team culture, why having the right people around you matters more than talent alone, and how supporting each other off the pitch drives success on it. He opens up about leadership, managing emotions, and how adversity has become one of his greatest teachers. This episode is for anyone chasing a dream, it's about staying grounded, backing yourself, and doing the hard stuff when no one’s watching. Heights 👉 Get 20% off your subscription by using Code: HP20 here: https://highpfrmc.com/heights20 HP Foundation 👉Do you want to kick-start an evolution that will change the lives of millions of children? Find out more about the High Performance Foundation: https://hppod.co/foundation HP Corporate Events 👉Click here to book High Performance Events: https://hppod.co/corporate-events Explore offers and discounts through our other partners: https://hppod.co/partners 📕Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 01:04 – Reflecting on Forest’s Season 02:38 – Nuno Espírito Santo’s Impact 05:07 – Building Team Belief & Culture 07:35 – Nuno’s Leadership: Less Talk, More Trust 10:07 – First Team Talk & Growing Confidence 12:19 – Motivation, Rituals & Support from Emma (His Partner) 15:01 – Chelsea Game & Missing Out on More 21:55 – Setting the Goal: Premier League Dream 28:52 – Obsession with Improvement 36:09 – Squad Mentality & Liverpool Game 41:02 – Big Game Prep & Emotional Control 43:24 – Nuno’s Personal Side with the Players 48:03 – Talent vs. Mentality in Football 52:42 – Dressing Room Standards 57:21 – Injury Management & Club Investment 1:07:14 – Don't get Roy Keane angry 1:09:40 – Paul Cox & Lower League Beginnings 1:24:11 – The Moment Forest Returned to the Premier League 1:26:44 – Ryan Yates' Golden Rule 1:29:02 – Final Reflections #HighPerformance #football #nottinghamforest