Ola Aina wants the confidence boost of reaching a European semi-final to spur Nottingham Forest in what has been the most unpredictable of seasons. Victory over Porto in midweek teed up a Europa League last-four showdown with Aston Villa for the Reds. The dream of lifting some silverware and reaching the Champions League remains alive for Vitor Pereira’s men. But so does the prospect of playing in the Championship next term as their position in the Premier League is far from secure. This afternoon’s game at home to Burnley (2pm kick-off) is a huge opportunity for Forest to boost their survival hopes, and Aina is eager to utilise the momentum built from a six-match unbeaten run in all competitions. JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Get all the Nottingham Forest latest via our Facebook page “It is football, that is the way it goes,” the full-back said of a run-in with much still riding on it. “You cannot predict anything and all we can do is control what we can control, that is by taking it game by game. Hopefully, come the end of the season, everyone has got something to cheer. “It (winning in Europe) helps the confidence, and it helps the mind and body to keep pushing. Last season, this is what we all wanted. We all wanted two games a week. We have to relish the opportunities. “I think we have always been confident but things have not always gone our way. But myself and the team have always been confident, no question about that. “We have good players who can do pretty things, so it is good that there is a bit of calmness now towards the end of the season. We needed it.” Calmness is not a quality that has characterised much of the Reds’ campaign. Pereira became their fourth head coach of the season when he was appointed in February. WORLD CUP LEGENDS: The stars who lit up football’s greatest tournament – Buy the Special Edition today “With everything, there was a bit of noise and it was not good,” Aina admitted. “But everything has settled down and everyone is fully focused. “All I can say is the club, the boys, everyone is happy with him (Pereira) and the way he does things. We are taking that happiness into games and we cannot ask for much more.” Forest will hope that happiness can carry them all the way to the Europa League final as they aim to finish this term in style. A first continental semi-final in 42 years is a fantastic achievement for the club, but the class of 2025 would love to firmly etch their names into Reds history. “It is going to be good,” Aina said of the meeting with Villa. “I’m looking forward to it. It is going to be another difficult test but one which everyone will relish. “It would be wicked (to reach the final); so amazing to get there in our first try back (in Europe). We have to also focus on each game at a time.”