Aina Urges Forest to Build on Last Season’s Momentum for 2025/26 season

Super Eagles defender Ola Aina has urged his Nottingham Forest teammates to maintain their momentum and aim even higher as preparations continue for the upcoming Premier League season.

Following Forest’s recent pre-season fixture against AS Monaco, Aina reflected on the club’s progress last term highlighted by a seventh-place finish and a return to European competition as a new benchmark for the team.

“Last year’s pre-season was a huge factor in how we performed, so the hope is to replicate that and push forward again,” the 27-year-old said.

Currently in southern Portugal for a warm weather training camp, Aina expressed optimism about the team’s direction heading into the 2024/25 campaign.

“We’ve put ourselves in a strong position, and this season promises to be exciting,” he added. “The goal is to keep progressing as a club because we achieved something special last year.”

Determined to avoid any signs of complacency, the Nigerian international stressed the importance of building on recent success rather than slipping backwards.

“We’re working extremely hard because we want to keep moving forward,” Aina said. “Last season set a standard we need to maintain and surpass.”

Now a key figure in Nuno Espírito Santo’s setup, Aina also spoke about the club’s growing ambition and the need to treat last season’s achievements as a new baseline.

“It’s important that we keep raising the bar. That’s how we grow by treating last season’s level as the minimum and striving to go beyond it,” he concluded.