Clough was being interviewed by the BBCs John Motson, he was asked what Nottingham Forests priorities were for the upcoming season, given that they were defending the European Cup and seen as favorites in contention for the Football League, FA Cup, and League Cup. Clough responded in a rather bold and hilarious manner:
The Football League, always has been and always will be (our top priority). I would gladly go out of the European Cup, the Football League Cup, and the FA Cup, which were not even in yet. I would gladly go out of all of them tomorrow if you could guarantee me winning the Football League.
John Motson quickly asked why Clough felt so strongly about the Football League being his top priority. Clough responded in a rather harsh manner yet again, but he did so with a lot of insight, making it clear how tough it really is to win a League Championship:
Because that (the Football League) is the one that you have to have every single aspect of football management about you to win it. Youve got to have endurance, youve got to have talent, youve got to be a little bit daft, youve got to have strength, psychology, you name it, and of course, youve got to have very good players, but its a real endurance battle over nine or ten months.