Glasner Shares His Pride in Aina's Performance

Nottingham Forest's manager, Oliver Glasner, talked about the question he asked Super Eagles defender, Ola Aina, before using him as a centre-back in the club’s 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

Aina played as the left-sided centre-back in a back three. This win marked Forest’s first Premier League victory of the season with their new manager. After the match, Glasner explained that he decided to play Aina in this new position after learning about injuries to the club’s main central defenders just before the game.

"The circumstances we have yesterday, it was in the evening that I got the result of the scans and all of a sudden both centre-backs couldn’t play," Glasner told Forest TV.

The former Crystal Palace manager said he then spoke to Aina and defender Ousmane Diomande to inform them of the change. He asked Aina directly if he felt he could handle the role.

"I knocked on Ola and Ousmane’s door and told them that they would start tomorrow in a back three. Especially with Ola, I had to ask him if he can imagine that this could work, and he said I can, and I knew he can.

"There are many challenges we have to overcome today, that is why I am really proud of the performance and the win," Glasner said.

Aina put in a strong performance in his new role. He made three tackles, one interception, four clearances, and two recoveries during the match. Forest will now look to build on the momentum from their first Premier League win of the season and keep their good form going under Glasner.