Ollie Watkins - The Football Interview

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1:59The first half will be on football, the second on their life away from the game. This isn't just any interview, this is the Football Interview. And this week, I'm speaking to Aston Villa forward, Oli Watkins. Well, Oli, let's go back to the very beginning to start with. I want to know where your love of football came from and the first time you can remember having a ball at your feet. Ah, that's a long time ago now. I wasn't expecting that question, to be honest. You were so young, really. Yeah, I was so young. My mum always used to say I was, as soon as I could walk, I was kicking bouncy balls and stuff around.

2:31And then whenever I used to go out to play in the street, I'd always come back with a football. Or just nicked another kid's football. I would just find footballs around and I'd just have a collection of different ones. And then I kind of just was playing with my brothers in the street and stuff like that. And then I got to, one day my friend come round and he was going to football practice later, but I didn't have a team and he told me to come with me and then it kind of it started from there. So that was your first team what can you remember of like your first little session with them? It was just different to what I'd I was just used to playing football down at the park with my friends this is a little bit more it was still fun but obviously you have a little bit of coaching and stuff like that so yeah just just playing for a team was I found that that fun because I'd not done that before and then I found that I was I was quite good at it so just kept going naturally.

3:23At what point did you realise, OK, I've maybe got something here that the other kids haven't got? Well, to be honest, there was a player that played in my team and his dad actually ran the team as well, but he was the best player. And I always just wanted to kind of get close to him and just be like him, really. At that age, I don't think you think about it, you're just playing football. It's maybe when you get into academies and stuff like that, then you start to think about doing it more seriously and thinking of the level you're at. But at that time, I think that's the fun thing about when you're young, you just go out and play and there's no sort of rules.

3:59You can run everywhere. I think that's the fun bit about football at that age. There's been a lot made of your journey in it, not being your typical go to an academy and kind of rise through the ranks. It was Exeter that picked you up first, wasn't it? Yeah. But that wasn't the easiest path straight away, was it either? No. So I went for a trial when I was nine. I didn't get in and then they told me to come back in six weeks but I couldn't concentrate I was always looking around and stuff like that so coming back six weeks later I didn't feel like I was going to improve I needed to go back and you know play with my friends and and just enjoy it because at that age it is very serious so you didn't go back six weeks later no no I went back two years later I got in the academy and then yeah I was there till when I left at 21 I think I know it's a long time ago now but at nine years old that must have been your dream to play for your local team to be told no sorry this isn't right for you at the moment can you remember how that felt or were you able to just go and enjoy football again they weren't saying oh no you weren't good enough it was more the fact that I couldn't focus uh well that's what they told me anyway but I just kind of saw it as I just went and played more football and just enjoyed it and I think I kind of saw it as a little bit of a blessing because some of my friends would be like oh, they just keep stopping and starting the sessions.

5:16And you're so young at that age, you just want to, like I say, just go out and play, have that freedom to express yourself. And so that's why I went away and did. And yeah, I think then when I then went into it, I was kind of ready to focus more. And when you were at Exeter as well, you went on some loan spells too. I know Western Supermair was quite a big one, wasn't it? Yeah, I feel like that was crucial in my development. One of my best friends at the time, Matt Jay, he made his debut at 16 I think obviously I was very happy for him he was my best friend but I was so envious of that because I wanted oh you want that to be you but me going out on loan definitely helped me because I felt like that I was then I'd experienced playing men's football I just learned to you know fight for three points people had mortgages to pay and stuff like that and I didn't understand that because I'd just been playing reserve team football and and playing games where I could win 5-0 or lose 5-0 it doesn't matter it's just about your development at the end of the day so so going out and playing for three points was was a real learning curve for me and it definitely helped me I learned a lot that year you did of course make it Exeter and then the rest kind of is history because that's where the rest of your journey started but has there been a turning point along the way where if you look back you think okay all of this I wouldn't be in England international scoring that goal at Euro 24 playing in the Champions League none of this would have happen without it?

6:41I think there's an element of luck I remember the day I got into the first team at Exeter Ryan Harley one of the main midfielders was ill that day so I ended up playing scoring and then I kind of stayed in the team and did well but after that I think just yeah working hard and when I made the jump to Brentford I was kind of a little bit surprised at how well I took to it I I expected everyone to be, yeah, I think because when you're younger, you look at players that you want to play against, you search them on YouTube or something like that. And the next thing you know, football changes so quickly, you can be playing with those players that you had watched or, yeah, aspired to be like.

7:22So, yeah, I think just working hard and timing, everything kind of falls into place naturally, I think. Is it quite hard to believe in that at times though? Because you kind of, you can control so much, but you can't control your luck or can you, do you think? Yeah, I think still something I'm coming to terms with, you know, you can do all you can throughout the week and prepare as best as you can for a game. But sometimes things are out of your control. There is times where, yeah, you know, it's lonely. You can't take your mates everywhere with you and your family and the people closest to you.

7:58You know, you've got to work hard and do it yourself and persevere at the end of the day. And if you keep working hard, it will pay off. What's been the toughest moment? The toughest moment for me has probably been throughout all my career, I would say this season, for me. Really? Just because I've done so well to get to where I am. Getting to the Premier League, we had a bit of a dip, I scored goals, and then you set that expectation of, well, I think I hit a new level in scoring goals in Europe as well, that go after the Euros, I think there's more eyes on you then. And then this year, I haven't been at the level I wanted to.

8:35so to learn to like deal with that is hard and look it can always change like football can always change it'll be a game where you can go out score three goals and then everyone talks about you like oh he's back in form stuff like that but I think the the um yeah that change of not being at the level where you want to be I think yeah for me this year has been difficult but I've always got faith in my ability and I work so hard that I know that I can get back to the level that I've achieved in the previous seasons. How have you dealt with it? Yeah it's been hard look I've got a lot of good people around me yeah I spoke to a lot of a lot of players that played the game I speak to Michael Owen quite a bit.

9:19Do you? Yeah just because sometimes they know how it's easy to speak to your friends and stuff when they've they come and watch you but they've got a biased opinion someone like Michael Owen who has played the game he's hit levels that I've not achieved but can know how I'm thinking and just see from afar and give you some advice on what to do I think it's always nice to be in my position and be able to reach out to these people is that like a regular check-in thing how did that no not a regular check-in I was actually going through my follows on Instagram it just said Michael Owen follow back so I followed him back and then I I messaged him and we just had a chat and he was just saying he just feels like when I play angry and I'm being a nuisance like that's that's when I'm at my best so just try and bring that to the table as much as possible.

10:09How easy is it to just play angry and be a nuisance? No I feel like sometimes I'm I'm too nice like my dad would always say it to me when I was younger when I was playing and he'd be like, oh, you need to play angry and stuff. But I couldn't just do it. There'll be days where I wake up and you have that feeling, but I'm just a nice, honest player. I think there's worse things to be, isn't there? Yeah, exactly. No, but some players like Diego Carlos, always in training, I feel like the South American players, they're very physical and they grow up with playing like that. That was never my style.

10:51I remember in training, there would just be like, it would be day before training, the ball's there, and Diego would be like trying to go for it. And I'm going to go, Diego, calm down. But I think that's just the way that they're brought up and, yeah, different sort of playing style. How's Unai Emery helped you through this? Because he's, of course, guided you to some of the best form that you've had. What's he been like for you this season as well? Yeah, for me, he's unbelievable. He's seen me when I've obviously at my best, at my worst. but I've had all my best moments under this manager and I think some of the best moments of the club have come through me, you know, some of my moments.

11:29He has a lot of faith in me and I think that's why there would be times where I haven't scored and he'll keep picking me because he believes in me and I think he knows that even if I'm not bringing goals to the table that I'll always work hard for the team and do my job and he can rely on me. So yeah, he's got a lot of faith in me and like I said I've I feel like I've gone up another level since he's come in. I also read in another interview you said you've worked with a sports therapist in terms of for your mind and the mental side of the game in recent years how's that helped and I believe you actually did that before this season didn't you is that something that's been important for a few years?

12:06Yeah I've done it for a few years now I think it's just good to like I said you have your family and friends that are close to you but they're always going to have a biased opinion and sometimes sugarcoat things and tell you what you want to hear. I think when it's someone outside of your close circle, it's nice to get another opinion and just, not just about football, it's, you know, all around day-to-day life. If you need opinion on things or, you know, some advice, someone to open up to and get things off your chest. Is that like a regular part of your routine then, along with training? Yeah, I try to.

12:45Sometimes it feels like a little bit of a chore, but no, I feel like it's definitely needed. Yeah, I keep things bottled up quite a lot. So, yeah, having that is something that is beneficial for me and has definitely helped me. Let's not just focus on the tough moments. Before this season, it had, as you said, kind of been an ascent like that. If there was one match you could go back and relive, what would it be? I think it's got to be, we're talking Vivilia. And that can be England either? Any match in your career? Well, for Villa I would have said the 7-2 game, just because it was a complete shock.

13:20I wish there was a full Villa Park though. Yeah, yeah, of course. But obviously the Euros goal, yeah, that was an amazing moment. I wish I celebrated a little bit differently. Why? I said I was going to do it, but you know when you say something, but you don't truly believe it's going to happen? And then I kind of celebrated as if I was a fan, in shock, that's just scored their first goal. I think that's what people really loved about it though. Yeah, I do think people like that, that element of it. I don't know, I think I should have owned it a little bit more. Just stood in the middle of the pitch.

13:52You know when Cantona used to score? Yeah. Yeah, we would do something like that. It was an amazing moment, wasn't it? It was, it was. And yeah, I think that's something that I'm striving for. After that, I think a lot of people notice me a lot more just through that goal. They may be like Wolves fans and they'll say to me, are that was an amazing moment you've given me the best moment in in i've had in football and that's an amazing feeling you know because i've been there in the in the beer gardens watching england before um and when someone scores that that togetherness that it brings um yeah it's nice so to know that i've i've done that to a lot of people is is a is a nice feeling there's another tournament that you can do in this summer isn't there you can just remind people of what you can do again.

14:37There is, there is. Yeah, we've got a massive tournament in the summer. I'm doing all I can to get there, score some more goals before the end of the season and hopefully be in that World Cup squad. Okay, let's try and get to know Oli away from the pitch a little bit. What were you like growing up other than being football obsessed? What was a young Oli like? Very energetic, probably a wind-up merchant. Yeah. Are you still like that now? Not really. I feel like I'm a bit different away from football um with my friends here i'm like very focused i'm quite professional when there's you know time for a laugh and a joke i'm i do but i i'm not really i wind up like i was back then i think what's your ideal day off then how do you like to escape there's two separate days there's one like a nice little spa day where are the kids yeah that's what i'm saying a nice little spa day and then there's another day where i'm just taking the kids out and just having like a nice lunch with them they're running around and a soft play and yeah just get to spend quality time with them as a fellow parent i would not be soft players no no a nice soft play a nice clean soft play yeah um you've got two kids right two kids what are you like as a dad i like to think i'm a good dad i like to think i'm very present one thing i've learned to do is just not really be on my phone a lot around them because they've grown up they've grown up so quickly um and they've got such good memories and I don't want them to remember me for not listening and being on my phone and just sat there looking at social media and not anything useful over playing with them and putting time and nurturing them so yeah I like to think I'm present I like to think I'm fun and just being there to love and care for them and one thing that people get wrong about you the most my age they think I'm a lot younger which is quite good yeah yeah it's quite good do it up now how old are you um i'm 30 yeah i think people will be like oh he's 30 hopefully people keep saying oh the young up and coming talent and i get a new five-year deal or something like that um yeah that's what i think that's what they say about me yeah they think i'm i'm younger than i am best piece of advice you've ever been given talk to yourself as if you were someone you love because obviously the negative self-talk can get to you and stuff but you wouldn't talk like that to your kid or your friends or family so yeah I'd say that.

17:04And aside from your children and your family what are you proudest of? Proudest of just what I've achieved in life, to be in my position, to be playing week in week out in the Premier League, to have a beautiful family. There's probably a time when you were playing in non-league that you didn't think that half of this... No I definitely didn't think it was going to be achievable. I think my aim was to get into the Championship. I remember one of the boys said to me, I think you can play in the Champ. so that was like my aim yeah to be here where I am today I'm very grateful and need to appreciate it more What is the one thing that you still would love to achieve?

17:39I think Europa League is something that we can definitely achieve short term World Cup would be special wouldn't it so yeah there's a few things that I want to do. Oli thank you really good to talk to you Thank you

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