Awoniyi Credits Hardwork For Goals Against Chelsea

Awoniyi Credits Hardwork For Goals Against Chelsea 

Ibraheem Lateef

Taiwo Awoniyi says his two goals for Nottingham Forest against Chelsea in Saturday's 2-2 draw was down to his hard work during his recovery, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Awoniyi gave Forest the lead when he rose highest to head in from Renan Lodi's cross on 13 minutes, but The Reds found themselves behind early in the second half when a quickfire Raheem Sterling brace turned the game on its head.

Forest fought back and found a rapid response, with Awoniyi on hand to convert Orel Mangala's cross for the equaliser and his fourth goal in two games.

The Nigerian said: "To be honest, the injury was a setback as that was the time I thought I was getting going.

“Like I said though, if you have an injury, if you’re not playing or if you’re on the bench, all you can do is work hard.

“All the goals that are coming now are just a way of showing how hard I have worked. For me, the most important thing is that I believe in God, and he’s always behind me in everything I do.

“The goals aren’t coming if my teammates aren’t giving me the chances, it’s a collective idea and collective work together. We are getting there and now we have two more finals to go.”

Speaking further, 'With the way the manager and the staff conduct the team and the togetherness we have, the game shows how united we are.

“As a player, you can’t give up. You have to keep on giving everything no matter the situation, if you’re playing or not, if you’re on the bench, you just have to work hard and keep on believing.

On his brace against Chelsea, "It was a great ball from Renan for the first goal.

“In training he put a similar cross in and I didn’t score, so he said to me “in the game, you have to score”, so I said “okay, I will”.

“I have to thank the manager too. I had a similar chance against Brentford and he sat me down and spoke to me about what to do, and thankfully it worked at Stanford Bridge.

“This is what makes a team, this is what makes you better when you have someone who gives you the chance to understand the game more and what you need to do better.”

“The second goal is also part of the coaches’ work. They came up with the idea of the throw-ins and we have created many chances from this.

“It was something special from Moussa, but also from Orel as well, and as a striker, you have to be ready for anything in the box.”