Villa Boss Throws Support Behind Struggling Striker
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has made his position unequivocally clear regarding striker Ollie Watkins, offering the player his complete backing during a challenging period in front of goal. The England international has managed to find the net just once throughout the current campaign, a strike that came against Fulham back in September.
Analysing the Goal Drought
The statistics reveal the extent of the forward's struggle. In his last 30 appearances for the club, Watkins has scored only four times. His goals during the final stretch of the previous season came against Southampton, Newcastle United, and Bournemouth. This dip in form was a contributing factor in his omission from the latest England squad, with national team manager Thomas Tuchel citing fitness concerns rather than outright form as the reason for his exclusion.
Emery's Personalised Training Approach
Speaking ahead of Villa's upcoming match with Leeds United, Emery detailed the tailored plan in place to help Watkins rediscover his best. "We’re trying to get his normal level every day, through training and sometimes resting," the manager explained. He acknowledged that Watkins has been dealing with minor physical issues, stating, "Some individual players can have small problems, and sometimes he’s not feeling 100% fit to play."
Emery emphasised the intelligent and patient work being done behind the scenes. "He’s trying to work intelligently, sometimes resting, sometimes not doing all the work we are doing. Then we’re progressively trying to get him comfortable and confident to play, not feeling some pain." The ultimate goal is to see the striker playing with his characteristic confidence and, crucially, scoring goals again. Emery concluded with a message of solidarity, affirming, "This is the only work we are doing. We’re trying to support him and be close with him when sometimes he’s not feeling good or getting his individual objectives."
