September 17th 2024.
After being substituted, Ollie Watkins was seen with ice strapped to his right ankle. However, Aston Villa's manager, Unai Emery, has downplayed the severity of the injury following their 3-0 win against BSC Young Boys in the Champions League on Tuesday evening. The victory marked the perfect start for Villa in the new format, with Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey, and Amadou Onana scoring the goals that sealed their well-deserved win in Bern.
In the first half, Watkins managed to find the back of the net with a powerful finish, but unfortunately, the goal was disallowed as the ball had hit his arm moments before. To add to his misfortune, the 28-year-old also took a knock and had to be replaced by Jhon Duran after 60 minutes, who also had a goal ruled out. As he sat on the bench, Watkins had ice on his right ankle, raising concerns about his fitness for their upcoming Premier League clash against Wolves on Saturday.
However, Emery reassured the fans that Watkins was okay when asked about his injury after the win. He also mentioned that Duran was in good form and they could play together if needed. Emery emphasized the importance of having both players fit and available, as they both bring unique qualities to the team.
The manager also believes that playing in the Champions League will greatly benefit his squad in terms of development. He highlighted the fact that some players do not have experience at this level, while others do. Emery expressed his desire to create a new way of playing and building upon the team's success in the Conference League last year. He also acknowledged the difficulty of playing away games and the importance of staying strong and together as a team, even when not playing at their home ground, Villa Park.
Villa's next game in the Champions League will be at home against Bayern Munich on October 2. Emery and his team are determined to continue their impressive start in the competition and hope to have the support of their fans throughout the journey.
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