Aina: Appeal verdict won’t change Forest focus
DEFENDER CONCENTRATING ON GETTING THE POINTS REDS NEED IN SURVIVAL BID
DEFENDER Ola Aina says news of Nottingham Forest’s unsuccessful points deduction appeal will not change the team’s focus in their remaining two Premier League games.
It was announced on Tuesday that the appeal board had upheld the original four-point punishment for the Reds’ breach of Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
The verdict means Nuno Espirito Santo’s side remain three points above the relegation zone ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Chelsea.
They will look to get over the survival line by picking up the points they need on the pitch. And they do now at least have clarity over how many points they have, with the PSR saga having dragged on since January when the club were first charged with falling foul of the rules.
“We know where we stand, so from that point of view it’s good for us and good for the club,” Aina told Sky Sports.
“But nevertheless, it’s just going out and doing the job we’ve always wanted to do – and that’s getting points. That will be the focus.
“Obviously it would have been nice (to get points back), you can’t doubt that. But as long as we’ve been doing our job and concentrating on getting points, I don’t think it really matters.”
Head coach Nuno has said the uncertainty surrounding Forest’s points deduction has been a distraction for his squad. They were docked the four points in March, had their appeal heard in April and then found out the verdict this week.
Aina insists that although it was on players’ minds at first, they have been able to ignore it as time has gone on. Their priority has always been to do the business in games.
“Initially, maybe a little bit for the squad,” he said, when asked if it had been a distraction.
“But as it’s gone on, I feel like everyone’s forgotten about it. We’ve just tried to focus on what we’re doing.
“We’re thankful that we haven’t really been down there where we’re begging for these points to come back. It was maybe a bit of distraction earlier but since then everyone has just forgotten about it and got on with our football.”