Despite four different coaches leading the club over the past year, the Super Eagles defender is confident Forest’s next chapter will end in continental qualification.
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Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina has made a bold prediction for next season, insisting the club will secure Champions League qualification under incoming head coach Oliver Glasner, regardless of the upheaval the team has been through in the dugout.
Speaking on his own YouTube channel, the 29 year old said the target for next season was clear, stating that Forest “will qualify for the Champions League”. He added that he was confident of a top-four finish, and that the squad would find a way there one way or another.
A Turbulent Year In The Dugout
Aina’s confidence comes despite a chaotic 12 months at the City Ground that has seen Forest cycle through four different coaches. Nuno Espirito Santo was dismissed last September, replaced by Ange Postecoglou, whose spell lasted barely a month after a run of two draws and four defeats.
Sean Dyche then took charge, managing 10 wins, 5 draws and 10 losses, but relegation fears prompted club ownership to make a further change. Vitor Pereira arrived next and steadied the ship considerably, guiding Forest to safety and all the way to a Europa League semi-final, where they were eventually eliminated by Aston Villa.
Pereira’s Exit And Glasner’s Arrival
Despite that turnaround, Forest opted not to continue with Pereira, using a contractual clause to terminate his deal by 30 June. According to journalist Ben Jacobs, the club informed Pereira of the decision by email just before midnight, catching him off guard after he had already begun planning pre-season training in Portugal.
In comments given to the BBC following his exit, Pereira said the news came as a complete surprise but that he respected the club’s right to make decisions in what it judged to be Forest’s best interests. He reflected proudly on securing Premier League survival and reaching the Europa League semi final, and said watching his squad grow in confidence and togetherness had been one of the most rewarding parts of his career.
Forest have since moved to appoint Glasner, fresh off a successful spell at Crystal Palace, as Pereira’s successor. Aina, who has already spoken about the disappointment of Forest’s Europa League exit, now turns his attention to the new campaign, which kicks off away at Leeds United on 22 August.
📌 Did You Know?
- Nottingham Forest have won the European Cup, the forerunner of the Champions League, on two occasions, both in the late 1970s.
- Ola Aina previously won the Premier League title during his time at Chelsea before later moves in his career.
- Ange Postecoglou’s brief Forest spell lasted only around a month before his dismissal.
- Forest’s Europa League semi-final run under Pereira marked one of the club’s best European campaigns in decades.
- Aina remains a key figure in the Super Eagles’ defensive setup under head coach Eric Chelle.
- Forest open their new Premier League campaign away at Leeds United on 22 August.
