- Ollie Watkins has admitted he was “frustrated” when Marcus Rashford was keeping him out of the team when he was on loan at Aston Villa
- He also heaped praise on Rashford’s talent, stating his ability was “frightening”
- Watkins was speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents on YouTube
Ollie Watkins has praised Marcus Rashford for his six-month loan spell at Aston Villa, revealing his admiration for his talent. However, the 30-year-old admitted his frustration when Rashford was keeping him out of the team.
When Rashford completed his high-profile loan move from Manchester United to Villa, it immediately altered the tactical landscape at Villa Park. Unai Emery was building a squad capable of disrupting the established elite, and securing an attacker of Rashford’s pedigree was a massive statement of intent
The mid-season switch came after the Englishman found himself frozen out at Old Trafford under Rúben Amorim, prompting Unai Emery to pounce on a short-term deal to bolster Villa’s historic Champions League campaign.
For Villa’s established talisman, Ollie Watkins, the arrival of another explosive England international brought an intense battle for minutes. Instead of fostering a toxic rivalry, however, Rashford’s impactful spell in the West Midlands generated profound mutual respect.
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents on YouTube, Watkins reflected on the six months the pair had together, offering heaps of praise and admiration for the 28-year-old.
“Surprised me the most? It’s different, because there’s so many good players. So like, in the rondos, I look at who’s going in a certain rondo, and then I go, I’m not going there.
“But like, Rashy (Rashford)… in a rondo as well. Like, sometimes I’m on the outside, and he does something over there, and he’s sending me, and I’m not even in the middle. So I would say him.
Admiration for Rashford
Watkins explained that witnessing Rashford’s elite level made Unai Emery’s tough selection decisions impossible to argue with. Despite personal frustration at being benched, Watkins admired Rashford’s performances, particularly in high-stakes matches, such as the Champions League quarter-final against PSG.
“I can’t speak highly enough of him. There was times (at Villa) I was on the bench, and he was keeping me out of the team, and I was frustrated, not about him. It was just, I wanted to play, but I could understand it, you know?
“There was times like the PSG game, he absolutely ripped them apart. And I’m on the sideline, I’m thinking, I shouldn’t come on there, really.
“But I’m honest like that. Like, I don’t have an ego. I thought he was, because you read things and stuff like that, but I knew Marcus’s talent, and I knew that the manager would get the best out of him. And to be fair, he did. And like, he was unbelievable. His ability is, yeah, it’s frightening.”
ReadAstonVilla verdict
Ultimately, Rashford’s temporary stint in the West Midlands proved to be a transformative period for Villa. Instead of disrupting the team’s chemistry, the arrival of world-class competition acted as a catalyst that elevated Emery’s entire squad during a historic Champions League campaign.
Watkins’ refreshing, ego-free perspective highlights the elite mentality breeding inside Villa Park. By prioritising collective success over personal frustration, Watkins and his teammates proved that the Villans possess both the elite talent and the professional culture required to sustain their position at the top of European football.
