Paul Merson explains how Ollie Watkins has become an England superstar thanks to a ‘game-changing’ tactic from Aston Villa manager Unai Emery.
On Sunday, two Villa players face the biggest challenge of their careers so far. Both Ezri Konsa and Watkins will face Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
However, England may not have gotten to this stage without the Villa striker. Watkins netted a fantastic late winner against the Netherlands in the semi-final which earned him high praise.
The 28-year-old has come a long way in a very short amount of time with Emery completely transforming his game.
In the 2023/24 campaign, Watkins was fundamental to Villa’s success and netted 27 goals in all competitions as the club reached the Champions League.
Now, after becoming England’s hero, former Villain Merson has explained how the striker has transformed his game.
Unai Emery deserves credit for transforming Ollie Watkins
While Watkins has always been a great player for Villa, over the last 18 months he has become one of the best attackers in Europe.
His goal against the Dutch was world-class as he acutely nestled the ball into the bottom corner to give England the lead with a second of normal time left.
Assessing the goal, Merson believes that one change has completely transformed the striker’s career which Emery should be credited for.
He said: “I think since Unai Emery has been at Villa, I think that’s been the game-changer. I think that’s been the game-changer. I don’t see him scoring that goal two years ago for England. I don’t see him scoring that goal at all two years ago.
“What he was before was an unbelievable team player. He was an unbelievable team player who kept on making runs down the channel, never going to score any goals. Great for the team, brilliant for the team, brilliant for centre-halves, takes the pressure off.
“What he does now he makes his runs. If you watch that run, he’s coming from outside to inside. He is outside to in. Before he was inside to out, and that’s the difference. I think Emery has got to take a massive, massive, a lot of credit for that because he has changed his game, and that’s where I think the goal comes from.”
Ollie Watkins is on his way to becoming an Aston Villa legend
While many players impressed in the 2023/24 campaign, Watkins was the best of Villa.
Every time the striker got the ball there was a sense that something would happen, and now, that has carried on with his England career.
If Watkins was to continue this form at Villa for the foreseeable future, he is well on his way to becoming a legend at the club.
The Birmingham outfit has not had a striker as prolific as him for years and the fact he is now doing it for England will only resonate with the majority of fans.
The striker is now arguably a Villa trophy away from achieving a legendary status at Villa Park and given how the club is performing in the transfer market, this could happen in the upcoming season.
