Ollie Watkins has admitted this season has been one of the toughest of his career, despite recently hitting a major milestone and rediscovering his scoring form for Aston Villa.
The striker has found the net four times in his last four matches, marking a sharp turnaround after a challenging spell earlier in the campaign. His resurgence comes at a crucial time for Villa, who are pushing on multiple fronts late in the season.
Watkins reflects on difficult period
Watkins revealed that his dip in form earlier this season was closely tied to the team’s overall performances, stressing that individual success often depends on collective rhythm.
“It’s been a tough moment for me,” he admitted. “When the team aren’t playing well, it’s hard personally to play well as well.”
Before his recent run, Watkins had scored in just eight separate matches across all competitions — a noticeable drop compared to his previous seasons under Unai Emery, where he consistently delivered double-digit goal tallies.
Milestone moment sparks motivation
The turning point appears to have coincided with a historic achievement. Watkins scored his 100th goal for Aston Villa during their emphatic Europa League win over Bologna, becoming the club’s first player to reach that milestone since 1962.
“Wow, when you put it like that, it’s a long, long time,” he said. “There have been a lot of ups and downs, but it’s definitely a milestone I will cherish.”
Rather than settling, Watkins insists the achievement has only fueled his ambition further, with his sights now set on reaching 100 Premier League goals.
“It only gives me motivation to score 100 Premier League goals now. That is the next target.”
Form returns at crucial stage
Watkins believes Villa’s improved team performances have been key to his recent goal-scoring run, with better attacking combinations creating more opportunities in front of goal.
“The more chances I get, the better for me,” he explained. “Collectively as a team we are playing well and I feel that helps me.”
With fixtures coming thick and fast, Watkins is determined to maintain momentum and push Villa forward during a decisive period of the campaign.
“It’s not a time to relax. We want to keep pushing. We have it all to play for.”
Focus turns to strong finish
As Aston Villa continue their push in both domestic and European competitions, Watkins’ return to form could prove vital.
After a difficult stretch, the striker is now peaking at the right moment — and if his recent performances continue, he could play a decisive role in shaping Villa’s season.
