Ola Aina Celebrates Nottingham Forest’ Impressive League and Cup Season

Nottingham Forest right back Ola Aina has described the club’s Premier League campaign and FA Cup run as “unbelievably amazing,” expressing awe at how far the team has come this season.

Aina featured for the full duration as Forest edged Brighton on penalties following a goalless draw in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Teammate Taiwo Awoniyi started the match but was subbed off in the second half.

The result continues a dream run for a team that narrowly escaped relegation just two seasons ago. Forest now sit third in the Premier League with 54 points behind Liverpool and Arsenal, and ahead of Chelsea and Manchester City as they chase a Champions League spot and prepare to host Manchester United next.

Speaking on the team’s transformation, Aina said: “As much as we joke and laugh, everyone has been working hard. Hopefully, we can achieve this target.”

Reflecting on the journey, he admitted the squad was stunned by their rise, especially after recent wins, including one over Liverpool. “We were looking at one another and reckoned that we can now go anywhere and do something big,” he added.

Having represented England at youth level before switching allegiance to Nigeria in 2018, Aina expressed hope that the club can maintain its form and secure a historic return to European football, referencing Forest’s back-to-back European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980.

Editorial

Ola Aina’s excitement is both justified and infectious. What Nottingham Forest are doing this season is nothing short of extraordinary. From relegation battles to the brink of Champions League qualification and an FA Cup semi final it’s the stuff of dreams.

This isn’t just a club overachieving it’s a group of players who’ve bought into a vision. Aina’s reflections pull back the curtain on the hard work behind the scenes. Yes, there’s laughter and camaraderie but there’s also intensity, belief, and a deep hunger to prove people wrong.

Forest’s rise isn’t built on star names or flashy signings. It’s rooted in cohesion, resilience, and players like Aina who know what it means to fight for every point. He speaks with humility, but you can hear the pride in his voice a man stunned by his team’s success, yet aware that it’s not by accident.

There’s a lesson here. Football rewards unity, preparation, and ambition. It doesn’t always care about history, budgets, or past accolades. This Forest side embodies that spirit, and in doing so, they’re becoming one of the most compelling stories of the season.

They might not lift a trophy this year, but what they’ve achieved already is a blueprint for clubs often written off. Aina’s optimism isn’t blind it’s built on something real. And if they keep pushing like this, who says the fairytale has to end?

Did You Know?

1. Nottingham Forest won back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980 under legendary manager Brian Clough.
2. Ola Aina was part of the Chelsea youth team that won the UEFA Youth League in 2015.
3. Taiwo Awoniyi, Aina’s international teammate, was Liverpool’s player for six years without ever making a first-team appearance due to work permit issues.
4. Nottingham Forest’s City Ground stadium has a capacity of over 30,000 and is one of the oldest professional football grounds in England.
5. Aina played in Serie A for Torino before returning to England to join Forest in 2023.