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Wicked Watkins
Unai Emery believes that a meeting with Ollie Watkins soon after he was appointed could be behind the striker’s scintillating recent form for Aston Villa.
Watkins, 27, has scored eight goals in his last 10 Premier League appearances for the Villans, who have propelled themselves to seventh in the table after a 2-1 win at Leicester last night.
The England international scored the opener at the King Power Stadium before Bertrand Traore grabbed the winner late on.
And Emery has suggested that his sit down with the former Brentford finisher has helped his confidence levels.
He said: “I like to take challenges, always, with my striker, with my coaching. Because I like to be offensive and to be a winner.
“The striker is very important to me. I spoke with [Watkins] at the beginning about the relationship here. I told him that, ‘I want the best of you’. This is the way.
“Then, he has a big career to do in his future. It’s very important as well to try and speak about other players because he is not going to score if his team-mates aren’t helping him to do it.
“For us, Watkins is very important. He’s not only scoring but his commitment every day, trying to add more work, watching his clips.”
Flying Ferguson has great potential
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has hailed Evan Ferguson and believes the Irishman can become a “great player” after the forward scored to help the Seagulls overcome Bournemouth last night.
The Republic of Ireland international’s flicked finish put the South Coast side ahead at the Vitality Stadium before Julio Enciso doubled the lead in the dying moments.
De Zerbi has revolutionised Brighton since taking over from Graham Potter earlier in the season and has been full of praise for the breakthrough talent.
He said: “Evan is very young, his best quality is to score and it’s a very important quality but I think he has potential to improve in other parts of the pitch, to play with the other players, to play more for the team.
“In my work I have to make results but I have to help my players to improve, to progress. But I think we can achieve our target with Evan.
“I’m proud for him, I think the same for our scouting in our club. He can become a great player.”
