Nottingham Forest of England defender, Ola Aina has set his mind o achieving a top-four end to the coming season in the English Premier League, as he believes the team will consolidate on their gains from the past campaign.
Sports247 reports that Aina was part of Forest’s squad that pulled off a remarkable qualification for the UEFA Europa League the previous season and they came close to nicking a spot in the final of the second-string continental competition early this year.
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However, Aina and his colleagues were eliminated by eventual winners and fellow-EPL side, Aston Villa in the semi-finals, the first leg of which the Super Eagles’ right-back started but bowed out of due to a recurring injury, which also kept him out of the season’s first half.
His struggles started when he copped a serious hamstring injury while on international duty in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa, which also ruled him out of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
While recounting agony of the knee problem he got during the Europa League semi-final first leg win over Aston Villa, Aina admitted it was a huge setback to his ambitions but quickly pointed out that he is now looking forward to a better run this time out.
He then affirmed that Forest, who also have Nigerian striker, Taiwo Awoniyi in their squad, are capable of competing at the highest level in the coming season, while stressing that his sight is already set on helping the two-time European champions finish in the EPL’s top four.
The former Chelsea and Hull City of England full-back, who previously had two spells at AS Torino of Italy, concluded with a philosophical view that missing the Europa League final was the will of God, then enthused that his side will go one step further in the coming campaign.
Aina declared, “I would have been standing here with my medal (but) God said it wasn’t supposed to be. We go again next season. Next season, I’m saying it here as well, we will qualify for the Champions League. We will be there, top four. If not, we will make our way somehow.”
