Aston Villa are enjoying a brilliant campaign as Unai Emery pushes Villa into the Champions League, with the likes of Ollie Watkins and Pau Torres shining for the Midlands side in the race for fourth place.
Watkins, currently with England during the international break, has been simply incredible. Arguably the best striker in the Premier League this season, the England man has had a hand in 32 goals in 41 games.
In midfield, the balance is perfect. The energy of John McGinn and the technicality of Douglas Luiz suits Villa perfectly, combined with the likes of Youri Tielemans or Jacob Ramsey. Defensively very solid, too.
Torres has combined well with the likes of Clement Lenglet or Diego Carlos in the middle of the defence. They might have conceded 42 Premier League goals, but a part of that is down to the way Villa play.
What Pau Torres told Ollie Watkins about Villa star John McGinn
The feeling is good at Villa as we enter the latter stages of the season. Spurs are just three points behind with a game in hand, while Man United are starting to show some form further down in sixth place.
It will be an incredible achievement if Villa manage to hold on to fourth place – especially, when doing so alongside their campaign in the Conference League, given it is their first season in Europe for a long time.
McGinn and Watkins answered some questions about the Villa squad on Stadium Astro this week – and both picked McGinn as the squad’s biggest joker, before Watkins shared what Torres had asked him.
“Even Pau Torres came up to me the other day and he said ‘McGinn has energy every day, I don’t know how he does it’. Then he comes sprinting into the gym, pretending to do the bleep test,” Watkins said.
McGinn’s personaloity is infectious at Villa, perfect captain
Recently, a report said that staff and players at Villa all absolutely love McGinn. A player that is now well-respected within the Villa squad – not just because of his quality on the pitch, but his character off of it.
Joining Villa when they were in the Championship under Steve Bruce, 29-year-old McGinn has grown into a reliable midfielder in the Premier League, alongside Villa’s growth in the top tier of English football.
If Villa are to do something this season, and Emery guides the club into the Champions League for next season, then McGinn will have played a fundamental, crucial part. Both on, and off the pitch for Villa.
The post 'I don't know how': Ollie Watkins admits Pau Torres has been left stunned by 29-year-old Aston Villa player appeared first on TBR Football.