Nottingham Forest and Super Eagles defender, Ola Aina, has highlighted communication as the key factor behind the team’s impressive defensive performances this season.
Forest secured their fourth win of the campaign with a resounding 3-1 victory over Leicester City on Friday night. This result propelled them to fifth place in the Premier League, and their defensive record is second only to league leaders Liverpool.
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Aina has been instrumental in Forest’s fairytale season, contributing significantly to their defensive solidity. The team has conceded just seven goals so far, a feat Aina attributes to effective communication among the defenders.
“Communication is paramount, especially in the backline,” Aina explained after the match. “When one player steps up, we must cover them. The communication is crucial.”
“We’ve been working tirelessly and playing for each other, and that’s what’s driving our defensive performance. We demand excellence from one another, and that starts with the manager’s guidance.”
“We’re determined to reduce the number of goals conceded compared to last season, particularly from set pieces. We’ve been putting in the work, and we’ve built a strong defensive unit that we hope to maintain.”
Currently sitting in fifth place, Aina believes this position can serve as a major confidence boost for the team.
“We’re in a fantastic position, and it’s a real confidence booster. We’re working hard, and our efforts are paying off. However, we’re taking it one game at a time and focusing on accumulating points.”