Unai Emery backs key Aston Villa man to emerge from slump
Unai Emery is confident the goals will come for Ollie Watkins after backing the striker to emerge from his current slump.
Watkins has scored just once in 14 appearances this season and is in comfortably his poorest goalscoring form since Emery arrived at Villa Park three years ago.
But Emery has no doubts the 29-year-old will again come good provided he keeps working hard.
Villa next play Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday in the Europa League and Emery’s message to Watkins is simple.
The boss said: “Keep going. The next step forward will come on Thursday and another opportunity to play and continue doing his work.
“Through it he can achieve the objective to score goals and help goals. It will come through the work he is doing.”
Villa have scored only nine goals in 10 Premier League matches so far, albeit last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool was the first time they had been shut out in 10 games in all competitions.
Emery is relaxed about his team’s attack, explaining: “Of course we need goals, but we hit two posts on Saturday. Cash and Morgan Rogers were close to scoring. The goals are coming through our work and structure.
“It is not individual. We need collectively to get comfortable, create chances to score. Today we didn’t score, but the way we are doing and reacting after our poor start is getting us balance.
“I believe in every player we have and their goals will come, working like we are working.”
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