Aston Villa manager Unai Emery expresses strong confidence that striker Ollie Watkins will match his impressive goal tallies from recent seasons by the campaign’s end. Watkins snapped a seven-match scoring dry spell with a powerful header, putting Villa ahead against Lille in the first leg of their Europa League round-of-16 clash.
The forward saw a goal disallowed for a narrow offside against Chelsea last week. He also squandered key chances during Villa’s loss to Chelsea and their earlier victory over Lille, but recent displays signal a return to form and increased influence on matches.
Emery’s Pre-Match Assessment
Ahead of Sunday’s Premier League showdown with Manchester United, Emery addressed Watkins’ resurgence during his press conference.
“Confidence is building, starting with goals,” Emery began. “This season, he hasn’t matched his previous assist totals, but his next test against Manchester United could see him score or create. Above all, he must regain belief in his daily role, which he fulfills consistently in training and games.”
Emery emphasized team and fan backing for all players. “Yesterday, he netted once and nearly added another. His efforts prove he’s a fighter. Even if his stats lag behind past years so far, plenty of fixtures remain, and I’m sure he’ll deliver.”
