Ola Aina was thrown into an unfamiliar centre-back role at short notice, and Nottingham Forest coach Oliver Glasner says the Super Eagles defender delivered exactly when the club needed him.
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Nottingham Forest head coach Oliver Glasner has praised Ola Aina for his composed performance in the club’s 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Saturday, after the Nigeria international was asked to play an unfamiliar role at the heart of defence.
A Late Injury Forces A Reshuffle
Aina was moved into central defence following injuries that ruled out two of Forest’s regular centre-backs. Despite the shift, he produced a composed and assured display, contributing three tackles, one interception and four clearances in a tightly contested match.
Glasner’s Late-Night Call
Glasner explained the change came together at short notice, revealing he only received the scan results confirming both injuries on the evening before the game. Speaking to Forest TV, he described knocking on Aina’s door to inform him he would be starting in a back three the next day.
Trusting Aina With The Switch
Glasner said he had asked Aina directly whether he felt he could handle the positional switch, and the defender responded with confidence. The coach added that he was proud of both the performance and the win, given the challenges the team had to overcome, with the phrase, “I knew he could,” capturing his trust in the 30-year-old.
