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Dean Smith shares one thing Ollie Watkins ‘obsessed’ over in Aston Villa training
Dean Smith has revealed what Ollie Watkins constantly did in Aston Villa training during the pair’s time together at the club.
The now Charlotte FC manager was the one who brought in the England international to Villa Park from Brentford back in 2020, with Watkins since becoming a star striker for the Villians under Unai Emery and one of the most consistent goalscorers in the Premier League.
Firing Villa to a UEFA Champions League finish last season, Watkins’ form has been nothing short of incredible in the last 12 months, with the attacker scoring what will go down as his most famous goal yet this week in the Euro 2024 semi-finals for England against the Netherlands.
And former manager Smith has now shared what Watkins was obsessed about in training.
Watkins couldn’t stop working on his finishing in Villa training
Speaking to , Smith revealed that Watkins was ‘obsessed’ with working on his finishing ability and doing all he can to improve, with the results in the subsequent years proving that the hard work has paid off.
With over 40 goal contributions for club and country this season, Watkins has never looked better when leading the line, and the England international will today want to give another historic account for himself in the Euro 2024 final against Spain.
Smith said when asked about what Watkins was like in training: “Ollie is one of the hardest-working pros I’ve ever known. At Villa, my coach Richard O’Kelly worked with him daily and I had to drag the two of them in!
“They are both football junkies, obsessed with finishing and wanting to do better. I had to keep reminding them ‘We’ve got a game on Saturday, get off the pitch and rest up!'”
Watkins could still get better after historic season
It’s been a year to remember for Watkins, who was key to Villa returning to the Champions League as the attacker etched his name into English football history with his sensational semi-final winner at the Euros.
And the crazy thing about Watkins is that the attacker could still get better even after the incredible year the attacker has just had, with the 28-year-old forward only getting more dangerous with every new season.
Indeed, Watkins is proving he is one of the best all-round attackers in Europe, and the striker could still go up another level with Villa on the right track under Emery in the last 18 months.