Watkins has described this season as the most challenging period of his professional life, with his starting role at Aston Villa now contested by the arrival of fellow striker Tammy Abraham. Multiple reports indicate that Abraham rejoined the club from Besiktas in a £18 million deal during the January transfer window, heightening competition for the forward positions. Watkins has scored eight goals across all competitions this season, a tally that includes one assist recorded against Manchester United in December.
This represents a notable shift from his previous two campaigns, during which he tallied 21 assists. Manager Unai Emery has publicly expressed confidence in Watkins' abilities, stating that the striker has proven his capacity to score goals over a long period. Tammy Abraham's return to Aston Villa marks a significant squad addition, with the £18 million signing from Besiktas completed in January.
Ah, it was a long time ago now!
Watkins' football journey began in childhood, with multiple reports indicating he started playing at a very young age. His path to professional football included a trial with Exeter at age nine, which he did not initially pass.
Yeah, I was so young. My mum always used to say as soon as I could walk I was kicking bouncy balls and stuff around. Then whenever I used to go out to play in the street, I'd always come back with a football.
I would just find footballs around and I'd have a collection of different ones. I was playing with my brothers in the street and stuff like that. One day my friend came around and he was going to football practice later, but I didn't have a team. He told me to come with him and then it started from there.
It was just different. I was used to playing football down at the park with my friends. This is a little bit more... it was still fun, but obviously you have a little bit of coaching and stuff like that. And then I found that I was quite good at it, so just kept going.
Well, to be honest, there was a player that played in my team... his dad actually ran the team as well... he was the best player. And I always just wanted to kind of get close to him and just be like him really. At that age, I don't think you think about it. You're just playing football. It's maybe when you get into academies and stuff like that then you start to think about doing it more seriously and thinking of the level you're at. But at that time - I think that's the fun thing about when you're young - you just go out and play. There's no rules. You can run everywhere. I think that's the fun bit about football at that age.
No, I went for a trial when I was nine. I didn't get in and then they told me to come back in six weeks, but I couldn't concentrate. I was always looking around and stuff like that, so coming back six weeks later, I didn't feel like I was going to improve. I needed to go back and, you know, play with my friends and just enjoy it because at that age it is very serious.
No, I went back two years later. I got in the academy and then, yeah, I was there until I left at 21 I think.
I have massive respect for Ollie Watkins and massive respect for Tammy Abraham, they are both fantastic strikers. Tomorrow, one or another, or both together, they must perform and focus with their gameplan to achieve three points.
Of course, our challenge is how we can help our offensive players to create better chances or more attacking options to score goals. The responsibility is not only for them.
It is about the structure we have, how we can help them to feel comfortable and confident and creating more options in the attacking third and better ways to link with them or help them, to exploit their qualities.
Of course, sometimes we can maybe miss some chances. Sometimes not. We are analysing it, how we can get better. How we can help our offensive players, our strikers, to be closer to score goals.
Set-pieces are very important, how we are tactically getting the right way offensively, sometimes getting duels, sometimes in combination or individual action. We must identify everything together and understand it.
It is not only the striker's responsibility to score goals. Of course, Watkins showed his capacity to score goals for a long time and Tammy as well. We must help them. The responsibility is mine, how we can get better offensively.
We are so, so happy how we are performing defensively. We are conceding fewer chances and sometimes it is enough but sometimes not.
In the balance, we can feel good. But it is not enough. We must achieve our better way by analysing and understanding.
There are still matches to play. I believe he will achieve his objective scoring goals and adding more assists. I believe in it.
We have enough matches to play. Our challenges are mainly collectively and individually as well. But that is for myself and the players. They must get it, those challenges individually, adding numbers for the team.