Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins has voiced his dissatisfaction with his current situation at the club, as he finds himself benched in favor of Marcus Rashford during a critical phase of the season. Watkins, who recently returned from a knee injury, has started only one of Villa’s last five matches, with manager Unai Emery opting for Rashford as the starting striker.
Speaking ahead of Villa’s crucial Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Watkins admitted his frustration. “For me, I’m not happy to sit on the bench. It’s disappointing every game that I’m on the bench, but it’s the manager’s decision at the end of the day,” he stated. Despite his reduced role, Watkins remains determined to make an impact and reclaim his spot in the starting lineup.
Watkins is also on the verge of making history at Aston Villa. With 73 Premier League goals, he is just one shy of equaling Gabby Agbonlahor’s club record of 74 goals. “Am I aware of the record? Of course I am,” Watkins said. “I am thinking of breaking it. I will do it at some point and I’m looking forward to that day.”
Marcus Rashford, who joined Villa on loan from Manchester United in January, has quickly established himself as Emery’s preferred striker. In his short time at the club, Rashford has scored three goals and provided four assists, solidifying his position in the starting XI. His performances have coincided with a challenging period for Watkins, who went five games without a goal before scoring as a substitute in Villa’s recent 3-0 win over Southampton.
Villa faces an uphill battle in their Champions League tie against PSG, trailing 3-1 after the first leg. Watkins believes the team can overturn the deficit at Villa Park, emphasizing the importance of leaving everything on the pitch. “At the end of the day, we have got nothing to lose. Playing against a top team in Europe, we have to have faith that we can do it,” he said.
While Watkins remains optimistic about achieving personal and team milestones, his frustrations highlight the challenges players face when competing for spots in highly competitive squads.