‘I see a lot of myself in Ollie Watkins. He’s a creator, dribbler and finisher, and he’s shown that he can be trusted consistently. That’s what the top players do’: Premier League legend has high praise for Aston Villa striker-ZoomTech News
Ollie Watkins loved a fruitful 2023/24 season, serving to get Aston Villa into the Champions League with 19 targets within the Premier League.
With out his talismanic type, Aston Villa might have needed to accept a lesser European competitors below Unai Emery. And whereas the Spaniard is the grasp within the Europa League, all Villa followers had been praying for a high 4 end. They duly earned it.
Success has been achieved with an attacking swagger not often seen in that a part of the nation. The 76 league targets scored was Villa’s highest tally in a 38-game top-flight season since 1913; Watkins’ 27 targets in all competitions, the very best whole for a Villa participant since Andy Grey in 1976/77. Including 13 league assists additionally confirmed that Watkins’ worth lies in additional than simply targets.
VIDEO: How Unai Emery Made Aston Villa Champions League Contenders
For Premier League legend and former Aston Villa striker, Dwight Yorke, he believes there is a clear resemblance between his type and Watkins’.
“I see numerous myself in Ollie Watkins,” Yorke solely tells FourFourTwo. “He’s a creator, a dribbler and a finisher, a bit like I used to be again within the day. You noticed from his variety of targets and assists final time period that he has slightly little bit of every part. His work ethic can be admirable. He’s a high, high participant. You don’t get to that degree, scoring that many targets and contributing creatively, except you’re a unbelievable footballer.
Watkins was sensible final time period (Picture credit score: Picture Photograph Company/Getty Photographs)
“It took him a short time to succeed in these ranges, however now he’s established. He’s a kind of gamers you’ll be able to decide many times, each week, as a result of his degree is at all times excessive and he has proven that he could be trusted constantly. That’s what the highest gamers do.
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“The place does Watkins go from right here? Can he produce that once more this season, whereas additionally performing within the Champions League?”
If he does, then Villa may nicely work their manner into the final 16 of the European competitors. Villa will want targets from Watkins in opposition to the likes of Bayern Munich, Juventus, RB Leipzig, Monaco and Celtic in the event that they’re to face an opportunity – but when final time period is something to go by, the Englishman will not be fazed.
Yorke speaks about Watkins (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
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