Ollie Watkins Sets Sights on World Cup Following Aston Villa Milestone
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has declared his intention to earn a recall to the England squad for the upcoming World Cup, after netting his 100th goal for the club in a commanding Europa League victory. Watkins opened the scoring as Villa secured a 4-0 win against Bologna in the quarter-final second leg, advancing with an aggregate score of 7-1 and setting up a semi-final clash with Nottingham Forest.
Historic Achievement and Recent Form
At 30 years old, Watkins became only the 12th player in Aston Villa's history to reach a century of goals, marking the first time since Peter McParland in the 1960s. This landmark comes amid a challenging season for the forward, who has responded with four goals in his last four matches after being left out of the most recent England selection by manager Thomas Tuchel.
In a post-match interview with TNT Sports, Watkins expressed his determination to let his performances speak for themselves. "Just keep scoring goals, that's all I can do," he stated, acknowledging his disappointment at the omission but understanding the decision. He added that criticism, particularly from social media, serves as motivation to improve and contribute on the pitch.
Villa's Dominant Display and Team Reaction
Watkins' early goal set the tone for a dominant performance, with Villa leading 3-0 at halftime thanks to additional strikes from Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers, who also had a penalty saved. Ezri Konsa, who scored in the first leg, completed the scoring late in the match.
Villa captain John McGinn praised the team's effort, highlighting the importance of the opening goal. "It was a brilliant performance, we needed to get the first goal, they're a dangerous team away from home," he said. "To get that first goal in a great first half gets us into a semi-final. We're delighted."
With his recent resurgence, Watkins is focused on maintaining his scoring form to secure a spot in England's World Cup squad, using both praise and critique as fuel for his ambitions.
