Taiwo Awoniyi admitted that he was very happy to be able to train with his teammates and regain their chemistry.

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi said after the team's 3-0 preseason friendly victory over Blackburn Rovers that he was very happy to be back with the team, training and playing with his teammates. Awoniyi scored in the Algarve to seal the win for his team.  

In the second half of the last two preseason friendlies, Taiwo Awoniyi took over the captain's armband from Nottingham Forest, further demonstrating his influence within the team. In a post-match interview, the striker stated that the team must cultivate a strong desire to win and approach the challenges with a positive mindset before the start of the new season.  

He said, "I'm in very good shape right now, which is the point of the preseason – it allows us to readjust to the rhythm of the game, prepare fully for the new season, and try to score goals. It's really hot here, but the most important thing right now is to improve our physical condition and gradually increase our playing time. The whole team understands this, and we hope to be in top form before the official matches begin, so we must continue our current upward trend."  

"The real competition will begin soon, and now is the time for us to prepare for it. The preseason gives teams the opportunity to adjust and improve, because once the official season starts, there will be very limited time for extra training and fixing problems. We need to cultivate the belief in winning during this period. If we hope to achieve something in the new season, all the groundwork must be done now."  

Speaking about his feelings upon returning to the team, Taiwo Awoniyi said, "I'm very happy to be back with the team, training with my teammates and rebuilding our chemistry. The purpose of these preseason games is to help us gradually regain our competitive form, adapt to the intensity of the game, and prepare for the new season through playing time."  

Image source: Internet/Nottingham Forest official website