Emery says Watkins should explain absence from Villa’s 4-0 defeat at Brighton
Unai Emery said Ollie Watkins should explain his absence from Aston Villa’s 4-0 defeat by Brighton at the Amex on Sunday and refused to answer questions about the striker’s decision. Emery acknowledged the omission without directly denying that Watkins had declined to play.
Watkins was left out of the matchday squad while he considers a move to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, leaving Emery short of options up front with Brian Madjo and Tammy Abraham sidelined by injuries. With the usual strikers unavailable, Emery deployed Emiliano Buendía as an emergency No 9 and Villa collapsed early on the south coast. The club have already sold Ezri Konsa, Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne and Youri Tielemans and are expected to move on Emiliano Martínez as they approach the end of the summer window.
Brighton led 4-0 after 31 minutes and Villa’s new signing João Gomes was sent off on his debut in the 40th minute. Gomes was dismissed after he “kicked up and out at the Brighton striker Georginio Rutter after being dispossessed by him,” leaving Villa further depleted during the first half.
Emery confirmed Al-Hilal have made a number of bids for Watkins that have been rejected and said it was understood the 30-year-old was open to a move. The head coach said on Friday he was realistic about the sale happening and indicated Villa would seek to replace Watkins if he leaves before the window closes.
Asked directly why Watkins had not been selected, Emery said: “This question is for him … I answer only with silence.” When pressed on whether Watkins had refused to play he added: “I think you can call him and you can call his agent and he can respond.” The Guardian have contacted Watkins’s agent for comment. After being asked if he felt let down by Watkins, Emery said: “He [Watkins] can only explain his answer, I can’t.”
Emery provided brief updates on the injured forwards, reporting that Madjo would be out for “two weeks more … more or less” and that Johan Manzambi would “need maybe some days more [than that]”; he was unclear about a timeframe for Abraham’s return. The coach also praised his players’ resistance in the second half and said he remained optimistic about finding solutions for the season ahead.
Emery returned to the difficulties created by the transfer situation and the injuries, saying: “Two strikers are injured and another striker gives his answer.” He added: “This problem [with the transfer market] … we had every season and every season we overcame it. It’s something we have to accept and always we reacted, especially the players. This is something hard for us every year but we are calm. With this result, it’s more difficult to explain but calm, work, be positive and find solutions for the next week and after the transfer window.”