Ollie Watkins has scored in just six games this season and has now spoken out about his form
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins(Image: Anna Gowthorpe/Shutterstock)
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins admits it is “hard not to notice” criticism from supporters after struggling to reach the heights he previously set for himself under Unai Emery.
After scoring 16 goals in the 2022/23 season – working with Emery for most of that campaign – Watkins then struck 19 times in the league the following season, helping Villa finish fourth and qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Last term, Watkins added another 16 to his Premier League tally and became Villa’s all-time top scorer in the competition. This season, however, Watkins has scored only eight times in 39 appearances across all competitions.
He has also managed just one assist, despite recording 27 across the previous two seasons and registering 68 goal contributions – a benchmark Watkins admits helped shape supporters’ expectations of him.
“It’s difficult now, the expectation is a lot higher,” Watkins said in an interview with Sky Sports News. “The previous seasons, I’ve scored a lot of goals.
“The season where we got to the Champions League, I scored 28 goals, so the expectation from there, you’ve set your benchmark and then people will judge you on that. So if you’re not doing that then it’s all eyes on you.
“Where we are as a club as well, the elevation of the club has only gone up, and there’s a lot more fans that you see out and voice their opinion – sometimes it’s hard not to notice them. In the modern day, that’s what you have to deal with.
“I work hard every day, try to improve, sometimes it might be your day, sometimes it won’t but you’ve just got to keep plugging away. I know the manager backs me and that’s all that matters.”
Villa signed Tammy Abraham for £18 million in January, as he came in to replace Donyell Malen and add more competition for Watkins.
“I don’t ever see it as, ‘Oh, Tammy’s come in and I’m threatened’ – I don’t see that,” Watkins said. “I think it’s good in helping the team, and it gets the best out of you.
“When Marcus (Rashford) came in last season, I was excited just to see [him] because I know how good a player he is. Just to try and take stuff from his game, improve as well, and I know he’s going to help the team, so as long as we’re improving collectively, then I’m happy.
“Hopefully we [Abraham] can play up front together, but if not then it’s down to the manager.”
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