Super Eagles in-form defender, Ola Aina expressed his thoughts on how the Nottingham Forest squad felt after the recent draw against Liverpool on Tuesday night at the City Ground.
The team spirit at Forest seems to be remarkable at the moment. Following the game, there was none of the usual dancing and celebrating that had been seen in recent weeks; instead, the players maintained a reserved demeanor.
This reflects how far the team has come. In the past, Forest might have celebrated a draw with Liverpool as a significant achievement, but this time the reaction was much more subdued.
Aina felt that Liverpool should have won the match. He took to Snapchat after the game to share his thoughts on the Premier League clash, saying: “I don’t know. Did Liverpool catch a break, or did we? They scored from a lucky corner, but they were also taking a lot of shots. On the other hand, we had our defences solid. I’ll take the point. In just one season, we’ve earned four points against them, which I don’t mind. I can’t lie; as a team and a club, we’ve come a long way. I’m happy with the point, but we left feeling like we had taken a loss, which just goes to show.”
Once again, Aina performed well on the pitch. He started the game at right-back, with Neco Williams playing on the left, suggesting he has found his place within the team.
Aina is currently in talks regarding a new contract at Forest. It is expected that after a specific number of games, an extension for another year will be triggered; however, the club is keen to secure a long-term agreement with him.
At 28 years old, Aina is likely at his peak, and Forest would prefer not to lose him on a free transfer. With the transfer window now open, foreign clubs can begin discussions about a pre-contract for Aina for the upcoming summer.
Forest is performing well this season, and Aina has been a crucial part of their success.
The challenge now is to ensure that one of the most influential figures in the dressing room remains with the club.