Onana Hails 'Massive' Villa Star Watkins After Critics 'Wrote Him Off'
Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana has publicly praised teammate Ollie Watkins following the striker's impressive resurgence in form, revealing that some critics had prematurely "written him off" during a challenging period.
Watkins' Remarkable Goal-Scoring Run
Watkins has been in exceptional form recently, scoring twice in Villa's dramatic 4-3 victory over Sunderland on Sunday. This performance marks his fifth goal in the last six appearances, showcasing a significant turnaround for the 30-year-old forward.
The striker achieved a historic milestone last Thursday when he became the first Villa player since Peter McParland in 1962 to reach 100 goals for the club during the match against Bologna. He then further cemented his legacy by moving into the top 10 all-time scorers for Aston Villa with his opening goal against Sunderland at Villa Park.
Onana's Unwavering Support
"Having Ollie is massive for us. I have been saying it for the last couple of months. He is one of the best English strikers," Onana declared after the victory over Sunderland.
The midfielder continued: "I guess because he was going through a bad phase, people wrote him off. So I'm very, very happy and pleased because I know how big he is for us. He showed it last week against Bologna and today too."
Onana acknowledged the psychological challenges professional athletes face, stating: "I think we are all human beings at the end of the day. If people are talking about you for weeks, at some points it will get to you."
Team Support and Personal Resilience
"But he is a guy who believes in himself and he has us around him as well, telling him what he is worth, every single day," Onana emphasized. "He is a very hard-working dude."
The Belgian international expressed confidence in Watkins' abilities throughout the difficult period: "I wasn't worried for him. I knew it was just a phase and he was going to get back to his best. That's what he is doing."
Onana also praised teammate Tammy Abraham's contribution: "For Tammy it has not been easy, when you have Ollie in such form. But he came on and did his job and won us the game in the end."
Adapting to Emery's System
When questioned about adjusting to manager Unai Emery's tactical structure, Onana admitted: "Oh, definitely! I had to wait for my chance as well, especially in the system the boss wants to play in."
"You need time to adapt. It is different to anything I have been in before, so you need time," he explained. "I think that is the normal way, or the process as the boss calls it."
The midfielder's comments highlight the importance of patience and adaptation within Emery's system, while simultaneously celebrating Watkins' perseverance and return to top form after facing significant criticism.
