Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner has revealed the question he asked Super Eagles defender Ola Aina before deploying him as a centre-back in the club’s 2-1 Premier League victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday.
Aina played as the left-sided centre-back in a back three as Forest secured their first Premier League win of the season under Glasner.
The manager explained that the decision to use Aina in the unfamiliar role was forced by injuries to Forest’s two recognised centre-backs, with scans confirming that neither player would be available shortly before the match.
“Yesterday evening, I got the results 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 subsequently approached Aina and defender Ousmane Diomande to explain the tactical adjustment and the need to change the defensive set-up.
Glasner revealed that he specifically asked Aina whether he felt capable of adapting to the centre-back position before deciding to trust the Nigeria international against Villa.
Aina responded to the challenge by helping Forest secure a crucial victory away from home as Glasner’s side picked up their first league win of the campaign.
