Ollie Watkins had a clear message for Aston Villa manager Unai Emery — he wants to play in the most important games.
Watkins was upset that he didn’t start in either of Villa’s Champions League quarter-final matches against Paris St-Germain. He said he was “fuming” about being on the bench.
But he turned that frustration into a great performance on Saturday. He scored in the first minute and assisted another goal, helping Villa beat Newcastle 4-1.
That goal also made him Villa’s joint-top Premier League scorer with 74 goals, tying Gabriel Agbonlahor’s record.
Even with his success, Watkins has only started two of the last six games, and he’s not happy about it. In the second leg against PSG, Marcus Rashford started instead of him, and Villa were knocked out.
Watkins told Sky Sports, “I was really angry not to play in those games. I told the manager how I felt. I respect his decision, but I’m not someone who likes sitting on the bench. I helped the team get this far, and I wanted to be on the pitch.”
When asked about Watkins’ words, Emery responded, “It’s great that he’s angry — and even better that he played so well against Newcastle.”
“Watkins Demands to Know Why He’s Not Playing”
Watkins thinks coach Emery now has a tough decision to make about who should start.
“I’m pushing to play and asking why I’m not in the starting team,” he said, while also saying that Aston Villa now has a very strong squad.
“Since I joined Villa, this is probably the best group of players we’ve had.
“The new players we signed in January, like Rashford and Marco Asensio, have added a lot of quality. Because of that, players like me have to sit on the bench sometimes, and there’s going to be more rotation.”
Emery has picked Rashford to start in four of Villa’s last six games, which has led to rumors that Watkins might leave the club.
Back in January, Villa turned down a £40 million offer from Arsenal for him.
Earlier this season, Watkins was the regular starter, and Jhon Duran was the one missing out. Duran has since left Villa for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia in a deal worth up to £71 million.
Villa hasn’t said yet if they plan to buy Rashford permanently. His loan lasts until the end of the season, and they have an option to sign him for £40 million.
Villa’s next game is against Manchester City on Tuesday, followed by an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
‘Dynamite’ Watkins
29-year-old Ollie Watkins scored just 33 seconds into the match against Newcastle. He got the ball in the box and hit a powerful shot that deflected off Fabian Schar and went in.
Watkins was the best player on the field. He hit the crossbar with one shot and the post with a strong header later. He also set up Aston Villa’s second goal with a great run and a perfect pass to Ian Maatsen.
He impressed throughout the game with his non-stop running, strong control, and smart pressing. Watkins was taken off in the 82nd minute, with Villa leading 4-1, and fans were cheering his name.
Former Villa defender Dion Dublin told BBC that Watkins had every right to be upset and said it’s good he was honest about it. Jamie Redknapp, a former England player, called Watkins’ performance “dynamite” and said he turned his anger into something positive.
Watkins has now scored 15 or more goals in three straight Premier League seasons—a first for a Villa player. Since last season, he has both scored and assisted in eight league games, second only to Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.