Controversial Unai Emery decision still affects Aston Villa star as sack claim made by Nigel Reo-Coker
Unai Emery has delayed discussions over his immediate Aston Villa future after his side beat Bologna in the Europa League.
Villa narrowly beat Bologna 1-0 on Thursday, with John McGinn’s early half-volley proving enough to secure his team a first win of the season.
The visitors went close to equalising in the second half, but were denied by a combination of Marco Bizot and the woodwork.
With his goal, John McGinn became the first Villa player to score in all three European competitions.
But there were negatives for Emery, with Ollie Watkins’ penalty miss after coming off the bench intensifying concerns about the striker’s form this season.
Nigel Reo-Coker provides insight on Ollie Watkins form
Emery has been accused of not trusting Watkins at Villa, after a particularly odd pair of decisions from the Spaniard last season.
The striker had featured extensively in both the Champions League and the Premier League, but was inexplicably dropped for both quarter-final legs against Paris Saint-Germain.
Emery favoured on-loan Marcus Rashford through the middle for both key clashes, with Watkins afforded just 25 minutes of action across Villa’s, arguably, biggest two games of the season.
With the England international yet to register a goal or an assist this season, Nigel Reo-Coker thinks Emery’s decisions may have had a long-lasting effect on the forward.
| Ollie Watkins | Premier League 2025/26 |
| Appearances | 5 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Big chances missed | 3 |
| Key passes per game | 0.8 |
| Shots per game | 1.6 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.1 |
“I feel that some of the decisions that Unai Emery made last season with some players might have affected them,” the former Villa man told CBS Sports Golazo on Thursday.
“You talk about when Marcus Rashford came in, and he favoured to play Marcus Rashford over Ollie Watkins, especially in those big games, you got to put yourself in the player’s perspective.
“Player’s perspective – Ollie Watkins has been there and done so well for you, and Marcus Rashford comes in, how you going to feel? It’s the human element of it, you’re going to feel some type of way.”
Unai Emery future verdict provided by Nigel Reo-Coker
Watkins’ form is just one of the issues facing Emery as he fights for his future at Villa Park.
The 29-year-old and Morgan Rogers directly contributed to 61 goals between them last season, but both players are yet to get off the mark this season.
Reo-Coker does not believe Emery is under immediate pressure yet, however, pointing at the problems Villa faced with the profit and sustainability rules in the summer.
He said: “There’s definitely no thinking about sacking Unai Emery. When you go back to last season and you look at not qualifying for the Champions League, that plays a big part because financially, that makes them restricted.”
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