Ollie Watkins told to quit Aston Villa after Marcus Rashford ‘disgrace’
Ollie Watkins finds himself in a difficult situation at Aston Villa amid his erratic game time in recent weeks.
Alan Brazil has stated that the England forward may even be off after falling down in the pecking order to Marcus Rashford.
Rashford, who’s on loan from Manchester United, started both the Champions League games against PSG.
Watkins told to seal Villa exit
The England international even told Unai Emery that he was not happy with the way his minutes have been handled recently.
In his view, he should be playing a lot more than he is currently, as he has proven it since his move from Brentford.
Brazil told talkSPORT at 1:18: “If you’re Ollie Watkins, you think: ‘What’s going on? I’m off.’
Sam Ellard then responded: “I’m not a Villa fan, but I thought it was an absolute disgrace that Rashford started both those Champions League games against PSG.
“So a guy’s got 60 goals 120 games for Aston Villa and Rashford just walks through the door and he’s playing over Watkins.”
Emery needs to sort it out after a good season for Aston Villa
Watkins’ frustration at Aston Villa, due to inconsistent game time, poses a challenge for Unai Emery.
It’s clear that both players are vital to Villa’s strong 2024-25 season, where they aim to secure Champions League qualification again.
Brazil suggested Watkins might consider leaving if his minutes don’t increase, reflecting his dissatisfaction.
To resolve this, Emery must prioritise clear communication with Watkins, reassuring him of his central role while explaining tactical decisions affecting his playing time.
| Aston Villa – remaining matches | Date |
| Crystal Palace (N) – FA Cup SF | 26 April |
| Fulham (H) | 3 May |
| Bournemouth (A) | 10 May |
| Potential FA Cup final* | 17 May* |
| Tottenham Hotspur (H) | 18 May |
| Manchester United (A) | 25 May |
The Spaniard could adjust his lineup, ensuring Watkins starts regularly in Premier League matches, leveraging his proven scoring ability.
Publicly, Emery should affirm Watkins’ importance to quell exit rumours and maintain team morale.
By balancing Watkins’ minutes with squad rotation to keep him fresh, Emery can restore his confidence and focus.
This is critical as Villa face a competitive race for a top-five Premier League finish.
Keeping Watkins in the right mindset will harness his talent, ensuring Villa’s best players drive the team toward another successful Champions League campaign