Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is managing the delicate situation of an unhappy Ollie Watkins while prioritizing the team’s needs during a crucial phase of the season.
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Watkins overcame competition from Jhon Duran earlier in the campaign, but in January, Villa capitalized on an opportunity to bring in Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United. ..Continue Reading
Emery’s tactics, coupled with the squad’s depth of players able to perform both centrally and out wide, led to Rashford transitioning from a left-sided role to playing as the central striker in Villa’s lineup.
For the first time since joining Villa in 2020, Watkins has found himself regularly benched and has candidly expressed his disappointment.
After a slow start to the season due to his England commitments and an insufficient pre-season, Watkins has rediscovered his scoring touch but still faces the challenge of retaining his spot.
Rashford’s recent performances have seen him take Watkins’ place in both Premier League and Champions League matches, fueling speculation of tension between Watkins and Emery.
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A player who was once indispensable for Villa, Watkins is clearly frustrated at being sidelined after leading the team through challenging times and missing out on the recognition he feels he deserves.
“Champions League, we’ve put in a lot of hard graft in the last few years to get to that position,” he told Sky Sports after scoring against Newcastle in the Premier League.
“I played 20 minutes against PSG in both games, so I’m not going to lie – I was fuming I wasn’t playing.
“I let [Emery] know that. He’s the manager at the end of the day. I respect his decision. But I’m not one of the players happy to sit on the bench.
“It’s something I haven’t experienced before and then to miss out on the biggest stage, you always want to play, especially in the Champions League.
“Me and a few others are disappointed we didn’t start the game but like I said, it’s the manager’s decision.”
Since arriving at Aston Villa on loan in January, Rashford has made a strong impression with his performances on the pitch.
His standout display in the second-leg victory against PSG highlighted his impact, as he transitioned from providing assists in his early appearances to consistently finding the back of the net.
Rashford scored again in Villa’s defeat against Man City, saying afterwards that “losing a game in the last minutes was tough, but we have to stay focused and be ready for the next game.”
Recently, Watkins and Rashford have been sharing playing time, but Rashford—on loan and chosen for the key matches—has stayed focused, expressing his happiness to be playing and his determination to compete for a spot.
Emery has consistently faced questions about Watkins in press conferences and post-match interviews ever since the striker voiced his frustration.
However, Emery’s attention remains fixed on securing a Champions League spot and preparing for the FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace.
Pundits like Roy Keane and Gary Neville have emphasized a clear message for Emery: while managing Watkins’ satisfaction is important, the success of Aston Villa as a whole must take precedence.
The manager said after Villa beat Newcastle: “[Watkins] played fantastic today. He’s commitment always is high commitment to try to get his best.”
Asked how difficult it is to make a decision between Rashford and Watkins, Emery said “I needed time to decide.”
Emery spoke again before and after the Manchester City game and played down the idea of a feud.
“It was a conversation, like he told it was a good conversation between us,” he told the media. “But it was last week and now we keep going, keep training and keep playing.”
The battle for positions isn’t merely a source of frustration for players at clubs competing on multiple fronts—it’s a necessity.
Aston Villa continue to thrive thanks to having two strikers capable of performing at the highest level. Watkins has netted 15 Premier League goals this season at an impressive rate of 0.60 goals per 90 minutes, along with just under 0.28 assists per 90.
Since Rashford’s arrival at Villa, his scoring rate has slightly improved to 0.41 goals per 90 minutes, matching his assist rate as well.
While Watkins holds the edge in overall goal contributions this season, Rashford has been more effective in front of goal and excels in creating scoring opportunities when including his games at Manchester United.
However, Emery’s decision-making goes beyond raw numbers. Off the ball, both players contribute significantly, but Rashford outshines in taking on defenders, while Watkins is a more dependable passer.
Emery’s deep understanding of his players’ abilities and his opponents’ tactics highlights that the team’s playing style may play a bigger role than many realize.
