Aston Villa match-winner reveals words which helped spark stunning Chelsea fightback

But with players expecting Emery to be angry, he instead delivered a positive half-time message before making the changes which helped transform the match in his team’s favour.

Watkins was brought off the bench just before the hour mark and scored twice as Villa claimed an 11th straight win to equal a 128-year-old club record.

He said: “Chelsea were very good in the first half but at the break the manager was so calm.

“In games where you think he is going to shout at us and get on to us, he is the opposite. 

“In games where we think we have done well he ends up getting on to you and demands more.

“Even though Chelsea were on top, he was very positive. He changed a few things when I came on, with Jadon (Sancho) too. He saw a tweak and it worked.”

Villa have now won 11 matches in a row for the third time in club history having previously achieved the feat in 1897 and 1914.

Watkins continued: “I didn’t have a clue about that (record). But it doesn’t surprise me with this manager. 

“Every record he breaks, or we break, I am not surprised because it is down to him.”

Villa can set a new record by beating Arsenal on Tuesday night. Victory at the Emirates would also move them level on points with the current Premier League leaders but Emery, who is continuing to play down his team’s title chances, believes the match will be their toughest of the season to date.

He said: “We played against them three weeks ago at home, but this is going to be a different match because in everything they are so, so strong. 

“The next challenge is really the biggest challenge we will face because they are the best team now.”

Villa will also be without Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash, who will miss the match through suspension after both picked up their fifth bookings of the season at Chelsea.

Watkins said: “They are hard to replace. We need to just keep pushing and avoid injuries and bookings like that because we need everyone to be fit and playing regularly. 

“To miss those two is hard but we just have to focus on ourselves.

“Of course, there is confidence. It is confidence from the manager. That he believes in us is the most important thing. 

“At the start of the season it was very difficult. We were losing a lot of games and things were not going our way. 

“Now I think he really believes in us and I think he is excited for the next game.”