Another game and another defeat for Aston Villa.
This time Unai Emery had to watch Villa get humbled by Chelsea on Sunday afternoon – who eased to a 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge and are now six points clear.
Villa are supposed to be a Champions League club, yet for far too long now, they haven’t shown signs of it and are faltering at a rapid rate.
That’s eight games without a win for Emery and only one clean sheet recorded in the Premier League this season.
What’s worse is that clean sheet came at home to Manchester United, who weeks later, proceeded to sack their manager, Erik ten Hag.
Aston Villa can’t defend to save their lives and you wonder where the next sheet will come – Brentford and Southampton travel to the Midlands next week.
But whilst the defence rightfully takes a verbal beating, those in the forward areas aren’t helping matters either.
Micah Richards critical of Ollie Watkins after defeat to Chelsea
Ollie Watkins played like a man with no confidence at the Bridge, despite having two guilt-edge opportunities to score at 1-0.
The England international won his dual in the attacking third, was inside the penalty area, at an angle, one-v-one with Robert Sanchez, and then proceeded to pass the ball straight to the keeper.
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It was the softest of attempts from the Villa man and Micah Richards highlighted that he is ‘struggling with confidence’.
The former right-back noted that, before the match, he spoke about Watkins’ struggles and then it reared its ugly head again during the match, as he told Sky Sports Premier League (01/12/24 at 2:30 pm).
“Yeah, it’s not his day,” said Richards. “We mentioned it before the game, I don’t know whether he is struggling with a little bit of confidence (because) he should be wacking that away here (one-v-one chance).
“Once he is set here, I don’t know, from a striker’s point of view, he does everything right, he bends his run, gets onside, wins the dual and then what he does wrong?!”
Robert Sanchez of Chelsea saves from Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa FC at Stamford...
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
Watkins v Jhon Duran stats
The games are coming thick and fast, so Emery probably has to rotate anyway and he might just do that for the visit of Brentford on Wednesday night.
As posted by Transfermarkt, from over 1,300 minutes of football this term, Watkins has six goals and two assists to his name.
Competition Apps Goals Assists Minutes
Premier League Premier League 13 6 2
UEFA Champions League UEFA Champions League 5 – 1
Whilst Duran hasn’t registered an assist and doesn’t have the all-round game of his counterpart, he is proving to be more ruthless in front of goal.
The 20-year-old has eight goals in all competitions this season and has played half the minutes of Watkins, so Emery has to make a big call in these coming weeks as to who becomes his regular starter.
Competition Apps Goals Assists Minutes
Premier League Premier League 13 4 –
UEFA Champions League UEFA Champions League 5 2 –
EFL Cup EFL Cup 2 2 –
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