Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has openly criticized manager Unai Emery for favoring Marcus Rashford in the Champions League, following Villa’s dominant 4-1 win over Newcastle United.
The crucial victory at Villa Park kept Aston Villa level on points with fifth-placed Nottingham Forest, maintaining their push for a Champions League spot. However, Watkins used his post-match interview to voice his frustration over being benched during their European campaign.
Despite being left out of the starting lineup for both legs of the quarter-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain—where Villa were narrowly eliminated 5-4 on aggregate—Watkins made an immediate impact against Newcastle, scoring just one minute into the game.
The England international was visibly frustrated about his limited role in the Champions League, playing only 33 minutes across the two matches against PSG.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the Newcastle win, Watkins didn’t hold back: “We’ve worked incredibly hard over the last few years to reach the Champions League, and to only get 20 minutes across both games against PSG was really disappointing. I won’t lie—I was furious not to be playing.”
He continued, “I made my feelings clear to the manager. At the end of the day, it’s his decision, and I respect that. But I’m not the type of player who’s content sitting on the bench.”
Watkins also emphasized his desire to contribute in high-stakes matches: “Missing out on such a big stage was tough. I always want to play, especially in the Champions League. Me and a few others were frustrated not to start, but the manager has the final say.”
While acknowledging Villa’s strong performance against PSG, Watkins made it clear he wanted a bigger role: “The team played well, but I wanted to be on the pitch longer. I believe I’ve been a key part of getting us to this level, and I want to start in the most important games.”
His bold comments have sparked debate over Emery’s selection choices, raising questions about squad dynamics as Villa continue their fight for a top-five finish.
