Ollie Watkins reacts to Amadou Onana’s message to Aston Villa fans
Ollie Watkins joined his Aston Villa teammates in reacting to Amadou Onana’s determined message to supporters following their narrow defeat to Manchester City.
Aston Villa were dealt last-minute heartbreak at the Etihad as Matheus Nunes struck in stoppage time to snatch all three points for City, dealing a major blow to Villa’s Champions League hopes.
Marcus Rashford had levelled earlier for the visitors after Bernardo Silva’s opener, but it wasn’t enough to earn anything from the match.
Axel Disasi came under criticism for his part in the late goal, with many pointing to his failure to track Jeremy Doku, who breezed past him before setting up Nunes.
In midfield, Onana partnered Boubacar Kamara in a duo that has largely impressed throughout the season. However, Villa’s defensive shape seemed to shift after Onana was substituted in the 76th minute, shortly before City’s winner.
Despite the result, Onana shared a message of resilience with fans, urging them to stay united and focused as the season reaches its climax.
Amadou Onana delivers rallying message as Aston Villa chase FA Cup glory
The 23-year-old shared a short but determined message following the defeat, saying: “We deserved more, but let’s reset and go again.”
His post drew plenty of support, with Watkins, Youri Tielemans and Fulham’s Alex Iwobi among those liking the message in support.
Onana had faced criticism for his form earlier in the season, but the midfielder has proven his worth to Unai Emery’s side since returning from injury this month. He’s featured in every match since his comeback and has now made 30 appearances in all competitions this term.
With Villa set to face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-final on 26 April, Onana will be hoping to build on his consistent form and help his side take one step closer to silverware.
| Aston Villa’s next three fixtures | Date |
| Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa | 26 April |
| Aston Villa vs Fulham | 3 May |
| Bournemouth vs Aston Villa | 10 May |
Ollie Watkins attracting Arsenal and Liverpool interest amid uncertain future
Despite staying active online, Watkins’ future at Villa Park appears increasingly unclear–particularly after being left out of the starting XI against City.
Former Villa defender Alan Hutton told Football Insider that Arsenal are expected to revisit their interest in Watkins this summer, with Mikel Arteta keen to strengthen his options up front.
Football Insider previously revealed that Aston Villa are bracing themselves for summer offers for Watkins, with both Arsenal and Liverpool monitoring the situation.
Rashford’s emergence in the squad has had an impact on Watkins’ game time, and a potential transfer could be on the cards if the striker continues to find himself on the bench.
In the meantime, Emery will be hoping Watkins channels Onana’s mentality as Villa prepare for a pivotal FA Cup clash.