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Aitor Karanka shares what he told Nottingham Forest’s new Portuguese signings at half-time

Middlesbrough's Spanish manager Aitor Karanka gestures from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Midd...
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Nottingham Forest picked up a 1-0 win over Scunthorpe United in friendly action last night.

Middlesbrough's Spanish manager Aitor Karanka arrives ahead of the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough at Selhurst Park in south London on...

Aitor Karanka has told BBC Nottingham Sport that he told Nottingham Forest’s new Portuguese signings that they needed to challenge harder for the ball.

Karanka gave all of his new Portuguese attackers a start in a pre-season friendly last night.

And the Forest boss felt that Gil Dias, Joao Carvalho and Diogo Goncalves all coped well, although he wants to see them improve off the ball.

Gil Dias of ACF Fiorentina reacts during the serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and SS Lazio at Stadio Artemio Franchi on April 18, 2018 in Florence, Italy.

He said: “It’s completely different. I told them, for example, at half-time that the 50/50 balls here, you need to go in much stronger. Here every single ball is important. They need to improve in that area but they are very good with the ball.”

Forest won 1-0 against Scunthorpe, although none of the new boys got on the scoresheet.

It was in fact Ryan Yates who broke the deadlock, with the defensive midfielder continuing to impress.

Will Vaulks of Rotherham United holds off a challenge from Ryan Yates of Scunthorpe United during the Sky Bet League One Play Off Semi Final second leg match between Rotherham United and...

Yates was sent out on loan last season by Forest, but he could have a part to play at the City Ground over the next campaign.

Forest begin their season in two weekends’ time, when they take on Bristol City, in what looks like a challenging opening game.