Unai Emery Comments on Ollie Watkins’ Absence During Aston Villa’s 4-0 Defeat to Brighton Amidst Al Hilal Transfer Rumors
UNAI EMERY has hinted that Ollie Watkins may have chosen not to take part in the match for Aston Villa.
The Villa manager mentioned that he couldn’t explain Watkins’ absence from the squad during their significant defeat to Brighton.
The 30-year-old striker is reportedly in discussions with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal this summer.
Reports suggest that the Villans have turned down FOUR bids for the England forward.
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When asked about the reason behind Watkins’ absence, Emery said: “You should direct that question to him. I cannot provide an answer. My response is silence.”
Upon further inquiry about whether Watkins had opted to withdraw, Emery replied: “You might want to reach out to him. His agent could give you more details.”
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“It’s not my place to provide further information. He is the only one who can clarify the matter. I cannot.”
“I can discuss players like Emiliano Buendia, Ross Barkley, and John McGinn.”
“Such scenarios arise every season, and we’ve learned to adapt.”
“It’s something we need to accept, and we constantly adjust to it.”
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Before the match, Emery simply said “silence” when questioned if Watkins’ tenure at the club had come to an end.
Watkins’ absence, coupled with injuries to Tammy Abraham and Brian Madjo, left Emery without a recognized striker for the match against Brighton.
Brighton managed to score four goals in only 25 minutes, largely due to efforts from Jack Hinshelwood and Maxim De Cuyper.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez also missed the game as he considers a possible transfer.
Emery has also lost Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, and Youri Tielemans from his Europa League-winning side.
Additionally, new acquisition Joao Gomes, signed for £34 million, will be unavailable for Villa’s next home match against Arsenal due to a suspension stemming from an altercation with Georginio Rutter.
Reflecting on his team’s lackluster performance, Emery stated: “We made errors that directly led to their goals.”
“In the first 20 to 25 minutes, we lost control entirely; it was an unusual and unexpected situation.”
“Conceding four goals is something I’ve never experienced during my four years here.”
“Moreover, the red card significantly affected our morale.”
Captain John McGinn expressed his apologies to the traveling supporters.
He noted: “The goals we allowed were completely unacceptable. We sincerely apologize to our fans.”
