Watkins was brought on in the second half to replace Rashford but struggled to influence the game—though, in fairness, he wasn’t given much time to make an impact. Since Villa’s January signings arrived, Watkins’ minutes under Unai Emery have been limited. According to The Mail, the striker has made his frustration known to the manager and expressed a strong desire for more regular playing time.
“I only got 20 minutes in both PSG matches, and I’m not going to lie—I was fuming,” Watkins admitted. “I let the manager know how I felt. Of course, I respect his decision—he’s in charge. But I’m not the kind of player who’s content sitting on the bench. Missing out on a stage like the Champions League was tough. You always want to be part of those big nights. A few of us were disappointed not to start, but rather than let it bring you down, you have to turn that frustration into motivation.”
Watkins certainly made a statement in Villa’s next outing against Newcastle. Starting the match, he needed just 33 seconds to find the back of the net, setting the tone for a dominant 4-1 win that keeps Villa firmly in the Champions League race. Despite inconsistent starts, Watkins has made a significant contribution this season, tallying 15 goals in 33 Premier League appearances.
Villa now prepare for a stern test against reigning champions Manchester City, who are coming off a 2-0 win over Everton. While City haven’t hit their usual heights this campaign, Pep Guardiola remains determined to finish strong and secure Champions League qualification, setting the stage for a compelling clash.
Ollie Watkins
Ollie Watkins
EnglandThis season he played in total 33 times for 2259 minutes for Premier League.
Ollie Watkins scored 15 goals for Aston Villa. He procured 7 assists. He received 1 yellow card and no red cards.
His team is currently 7th in Premier League. In the last match Aston Villa won 4-1 against Newcastle United.
Aston Villa performance and stats
Aston Villa
Aston Villa is currently 7th in the Premier League with 57 points.
In the last 33 games, it has won 16 times, drew 9 times, and lost 8 times. In its last match, Aston Villa won 4-1 against Newcastle United.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 53 goals and conceding 47.
Aston Villa will play the next match in Premier League against Manchester City on Tuesday 22nd of April in Manchester. The prediction is Manchester City winning the match.
