Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has shown what he can do on the pitch over the 2023/24 season under Unai Emery however, an insight has now emerged about what the 28-year-old is like behind the scenes.
The 2023/24 campaign was one to remember for Ollie Watkins, who secured 32 goal contributions in 37 appearances in the Premier League.
As well as recording his best scoring season in the top flight, building on last term’s 15 goals, the Englishman showed new levels to his playmaking game, seeing his role in Unai Emery’s front line elevate.
Watkins took home the Premier League Playmaker of the Season award for his 13 assists in the campaign, beating the likes of Cole Palmer and Kevin De Bruyne to the prize.
It’s abundantly clear that the 28-year-old has been putting in the work to hit new heights over the season, with his improvement undeniable through his numbers and his overall playing style.
Now, an insight has been shared into what the Villa talisman is like behind the scenes and in training.
What Ollie Watkins is like in training at Aston Villa
In a detailed piece on Watkins’ achievements this season, ‘sources’ told The Athletic how the striker conducts himself in training.
The piece written by Jacob Tanswell explains that the forward has been “working relentlessly with staff to get to these levels”.
After seeing the heights that the England international hit over the 2023/24 campaign, it’s unsurprising to learn of how he works at Bodymoor Heath, noted as being one of the most ‘conscientious and hardest trainers’ at the club.
Speaking at the end of the season, the striker admitted that his performance levels have not surprised him due to the ‘hard work’ he had been putting in throughout the campaign.
The improvements to the forward’s game were not just acknowledged by those at Villa and by himself, but by pundits far and wide, with Gary Lineker placing the Englishman ahead of Erling Haaland in his picks for Team of the Season.
Ollie Watkins has no ceiling at Aston Villa
There has never been any doubt about Watkins’ ability in attack however, it has only recently become apparent that the striker has the strength to evolve into one of the best marksmen in Europe.
In Europe’s top five leagues, the Villa man ranked within the top five players when it came to goal contributions over the campaign, placing him in the company of Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe as well as Premier League peers Palmer and Haaland.
Watkins has always been capable of scoring goals, but the work he has put in to make his game more rounded this term has moulded him into one of the best in the world over the 2023/24 calendar, telling of his desire to constantly evolve.
Success on the pitch starts on the training field, with Emery’s talisman’s approach to training unsurprising.
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