Not all managers like their star players to be driven by personal ambition but Aston Villa’s Unai Emery embraces it in the case of Ollie Watkins.
Watkins, whose brace on Saturday took him to 18 Premier League goals for the season, is aiming for the Golden Boot and a summer at the Euros with England.
Emery feels that desire will help Villa in their top-four tussle with Tottenham.
‘Ollie is very involved in the new demands we have as a club and I have as a coach,’ said the Spaniard.
‘To be in the national team, to be one of the best scorers in the Premier League — this is his motivation every day.
Ollie Watkins continues to star for Aston Villa as he fights for a place in England’s Euros camp
Watkins scored twice in Aston Villa’s crazy 3-3 draw against Brentford on Saturday
Villa manager Unai Emery heaped praise on the England striker after the match
‘To achieve it is through hard work. His wish to get something collectively and individually is very important for his career.’
Watkins is now only one goal behind the division’s top scorer, Erling Haaland.
Bees manager Thomas Frank praised Tottenham loanee Sergio Reguilon, who assisted two of his side’s goals, saying: ‘He needed a place to come where he will get the trust and opportunity to perform.’
Reguilon made only seven starts in the first half of the season on loan at Manchester United.
