Forest’s Aina urges club to aim higher after Europa League qualification

Super Eagles defender Ola Aina has called on Nottingham Forest to maintain momentum from their standout campaign as they prepare for the 2025–26 season. The defender, instrumental in their successful qualifying push, made 35 Premier League appearances last term scoring twice and providing one assist as Forest secured a coveted spot in the UEFA Europa League.

Speaking after a pre‑season fixture against AS Monaco, Aina reflected on their preparations “Last pre-season was a massive part of the season that we had, so hopefully we can replicate that and go again… We’ve put ourselves in a good position for this season and it should be exciting. Hopefully we can keep growing as a club because we did fantastically well last season.”His remarks underline a desire to avoid regression: “We just want to keep going in the right direction now, we don’t want to go backwards.”

Aina, who recently signed a fresh deal at the City Ground, emphasised the importance of raising standards: “It’s good that we’re setting the bar higher and we have a standard now… That’s how you keep growing as a team and a club so that’s the level we need to aspire to be consistently now and hopefully we can go past that.” With European football ahead, the defender insists the club’s high work ethic and ambition must persist.

Editorial

We see Ola Aina’s message as more than words it’s a mandate for ambition. Nottingham Forest’s qualification for the UEFA Europa League represented more than progression it validated the club’s strategy, unity and resilience. We believe this season demands the same hunger, but also added adaptability and depth.

We feel that pre-season is the blueprint. Replicating last year’s preparation schedule will reinforce fitness and cohesion, but additional tactical flexibility will define their success against varied continental opponents. The management must be bold, experimenting in friendlies to uncover new formations and personnel balance.

We assert that squad reinforcement should supplement, not reinvent, what worked. Strategic signings to bolster rotation options particularly in defensive and midfield areas could prevent fatigue without losing identity. Squad harmony should remain central.

We maintain that Aina’s recent contract signals both leadership and belief. As a senior voice and defensive anchor, he must galvanise both new and existing teammates. We encourage him to lead by example on the pitch, in training, and in challenging moments.

We are convinced that with intention, structure and unity, Forest can transform a breakthrough season into an enduring presence in Europe. The stage is set now they must light it.

Did You Know?

1. Ola Aina began his career at Chelsea’s academy before loan spells at Hull City and Torino shaped his early development.
2. In 2022, he switched international allegiance from England youth teams to the senior Nigeria side.
3. Forest’s home ground, the City Ground, will host European matches for the first time in nearly two decades this season.
4. Nottingham Forest last competed in a European tournament during the 1995–96 UEFA Cup campaign.
5. The average attendance at City Ground last season was approximately 29,000, one of the highest in the Premier League.