Unai Emery gave an exasperated answer to the question about Ollie Watkins being absent.
The Aston Villa forward has hit double digits during every Premier League campaign for the club since he signed in the summer window of 2020, spearheading the side to two Champions League qualifications and a Europa League title. But the story might be heading towards a sour ending.
‘I only can answer it by silence’
The 30-year-old was not part of the matchday squad in a 4-0 defeat to Brighton on Sunday afternoon, while Brian Madjo and Tammy Abraham are injured. Emiliano Buendia had to play as a central forward, and Emery had a cryptic comeback to the question about the whereabouts of his main striker.
“Two strikers are injured and another striker gives his answer.
"This question is for [Watkins.] Can you call him and make a question to him?
“Ask him [about whether he made himself unavailable for this game.] I only can answer it by silence.
"The players that are here, they showed it, their commitment and it's really fantastic and this is the way. Of course, losing, but this is the way."
This news comes after the sales of Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa. Emery has himself praised the ‘intelligent’ work of the club in the transfer window, with six recruits acquired for the first team in the offseason. The turnover might prove too much for the group to handle, but the Basque boss knows from history that the first few weeks do not define the campaign.
“This problem [with the transfer market] … we had every season and every season we overcame it. It’s something we have to accept and always we reacted, especially the players.
“This is something hard for us every year but we are calm. With this result, it’s difficult to explain but calm, work, be positive and find solutions for the next week and after the transfer window.
"We did a fantastic match against Paris Saint-Germain in the only official match we played, and today the first 10-15 minutes and the second half how we responded through our commitment, through our keeping up our focus and motivation, this is the best response I can find today.
“And then try to continue to find solution tactically and find solution with some needs in the squad. We always recover and came back from situations like that and I'm confident we will now."
