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A Homecoming to Remember
Ollie Watkins is buzzing with anticipation as Aston Villa prepares to host Manchester City at Villa Park this weekend. The striker is keen to replicate last season’s thrilling 1-0 victory over the reigning Premier League champions, a match that was pivotal for the club and its supporters.
That memorable win came just days before another triumph against Arsenal, marking a remarkable 15-match winning streak for Villa at home. With the stakes high, Watkins is determined to extend their impressive home form ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime showdown.
Villa’s Fortress at Home
Speaking to VillaTV, Watkins expressed his excitement, saying, “I’m looking forward to it. Obviously, a big team coming to Villa Park, we’ve got a really good home record and last year when we played them, it was a great week for us, as a team and as a club. Hopefully we can repeat that.”
Under the guidance of Unai Emery, Villa has been on an upward trajectory, recently securing back-to-back league victories against Southampton and Brentford. The team remains unbeaten in their last seven league matches at home, with their only defeat this season coming against Arsenal back in August.
Chasing Points and Climbing the Table
As the Premier League table tightens, Villa sits just two points and two places behind Manchester City ahead of the crucial encounter. Watkins believes that their home form could be the key to climbing further up the standings. “I feel like since the boss has come in, we’ve made it a little bit of a fortress,” he noted, reflecting on their previous successes.
“Going 15 games last season was amazing, so we know what we’re capable of. Hopefully we can do that again.” He added that having home support is vital in making Villa Park a challenging venue for visiting teams.
Building Momentum After Setbacks
Despite a frustrating injury-time defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend, Watkins and his teammates are focused on bouncing back. The team celebrated a strong start to the season with nine wins in their first 13 matches, but faced an eight-match winless streak that they have since broken with recent victories.
Watkins candidly assessed the season thus far, acknowledging both the highs and lows. “Collectively, we had a really good start to the season. We had a bit of a blip but we’ve come out of that now, and we’re onwards and upwards, focusing on what’s next and trying to challenge for the top four. Making sure we’re in the Champions League next year.”
Personal Challenges and Determination
On a personal level, Watkins has had a mixed season, having returned late from the Euros and struggling to find his rhythm. Despite this, he remains committed to pushing through the challenges. “It’s been tough, I’m not going to lie, but I’ll keep going,” he stated, clearly motivated to contribute to his team’s success.
Looking Ahead
As Aston Villa gears up for this weekend’s clash, all eyes will be on Watkins and the squad to see if they can replicate their previous heroics against Manchester City. With the support of their fans and a determination to make Villa Park a fortress once again, the stage is set for what promises to be an exhilarating encounter.