Awoniyi urges winning mentality in new campaign

Super Eagles forward Taiwo Awoniyi has said Nottingham Forest’s winning mentality for the new season must be established during pre-season, after scoring in the club’s three-nil friendly victory over Blackburn Rovers in the Algarve. The Nigerian striker netted Forest’s third goal after Arnaud Kalimuendo had earlier extended the team’s lead, and said the outing was about far more than building fitness. “It feels good, that is what pre-season is all about, getting the rhythm going and getting ready for the season, and of course getting the goals,” Awoniyi told the club’s official website. The 28-year-old stressed that the habits formed during pre-season would shape Forest’s performances throughout the coming Premier League campaign, insisting that a winning culture had to be established before the competitive season began. “The games we want during the season start now. This is where you get all the bits done, because when the season starts you will have less time to do the running. This is where your winning mentality starts. If we are going to achieve anything, it starts from here,” he said. Awoniyi also spoke about the importance of regaining match sharpness and rebuilding chemistry with his teammates following the summer break, describing the Algarve conditions as hot but insisting the focus remained on building fitness and match minutes. “It was hot, but as I said, pre-season is all about getting fitness and getting the minutes. The goal is to be ready for the first game, so we need to keep it going,” he added.