- Ollie Watkins scored two goals in Aston Villa’s chaotic 4-3 win over Sunderland on Sunday
- He has had a stark turnaround in form since his omission from the England squad last month
- Amadou Onana has praised the 30-year-old’s recent performances, labelling him as “one of the best English strikers”
Amadou Onana has heaped praise on Ollie Watkins following the striker’s sensational resurgence. After being left out of the latest England squad, Watkins appears to have used the snub as fuel, delivering a string of match-winning performances.
His clinical brace against Sunderland on Sunday has taken his recent tally to an impressive six goals in just five matches.
Just last week, his goal in the Europa League quarter final second leg made the 30-year-old become the first Villa player to reach 100 goals for the club since Peter McParland in 1962. His double on the weekend also moved him outright in 10th place in Villa’s all-time leading scorers.
Onana very “pleased” with Watkins
In a post match interview after the game, Onana stated he was “very happy and pleased” with Watkins, given the response he’s shown to recent criticism.
“Having Ollie is massive for us. I have been saying it for the last couple of months. He is one of the best English strikers.
“I guess because he was going through a bad phase, people wrote him off. So I’m very, very happy and pleased because I know how big he is for us. He showed it last week against Bologna and today too.
“I think we are all human beings at the end of the day. If people are talking about you for weeks, at some point, it will get to you.
“But he is a guy who believes in himself, and he has us around him as well, telling him what he is worth, every single day. He is a very hard-working dude.
“I wasn’t worried for him. I knew it was just a phase and he was going to get back to his best. That’s what he is doing.”
Previously, Watkins looked short on confidence, and it massively affected his game. Now, with some goals under his belt, he’s returned to his best and looks like one of the most dangerous strikers in the league again.
Takes time to get used to Emery’s structure
Onana was also asked about how much time it takes to adapt and learn Emery’s structure.
“Oh, definitely! I had to wait for my chance as well, especially in the system the boss wants to play in.
“You need time to adapt. It is different to anything I have been in before, so you need time. I think that is the normal way, or the process as the boss calls it.”
Peaking at the right time, with players like Watkins finding form, has never been more suited to Villa right now.
With a crucial five games left in the Premier League, Villa needed just two wins to mathematically secure Champions League football, the aim that was set out at the start of the season. They also have the opportunity to end their 30-year wait for a trophy, as they take on Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals of the Europa League.
It could be one of the club’s best seasons in a very long time.
