Oli Watkins: This Is What You Dream About

Aston Villa forward Oli Watkins was ecstatic following the club's Europa League triumph, where they defeated Freiburg 3-0 in the final. Watkins emphasized that this achievement was a fulfillment of a dream.

Celebrating the Triumph

"It's unbelievable, unbelievable. To be in this position was simply incredible. I felt that we really controlled the game and punished them at the end," Watkins expressed. He also highlighted the goals scored by Aston Villa, particularly the first from Jorryt Hendrix, which came from a set-piece corner routine.

"I've watched a lot of finals, and I think set-piece positions are crucial. Until the first goal, the game was quite closed, they were playing man-to-man. Bravo to [set-piece trainer] Austin MacPhee for his boldness – we left four souls up front on a corner. An incredible experience. See that. This is something you dream about," he added.

Impressions on the Trophy and Manager

Asked about the significance of the trophy for him and the club, Watkins responded, "Sometimes there are ups and downs, but in the end, we managed to push strongly and secure a Champions League spot. It's so special. All these fans – it's indescribable."

Watkins also commended manager Unai Emery. "Today was really calm during the pre-match preparation. Sometimes in league matches, he is tense because he wants to win badly, but today he was radiating calmness, which set the tone for us, the boys. Jorryt [Hendrix] was orchestrating the game in midfield. And Victor [Lindelöf] has been performing so well since he joined – he was my man of the match today," Watkins concluded.