Aston Villa manager Unai Emery directed journalists to contact Ollie Watkins’ representative regarding the forward’s absence from the squad that faced Brighton. The Midlands club suffered a comprehensive defeat during their season opener on the south coast, having been reduced to 10 players during a disastrous opening 45 minutes.
Joao Gomes received his marching orders after Brighton had already netted four times, with Maxim De Cuyper and Jack Hinshelwood among the scorers following Victor Lindelöf’s own goal in the eighth minute. Hinshelwood completed his brace before the interval.
Leading up to the match, conjecture swirled around Watkins’ location, with BirminghamLive confirming the striker was neither sidelined through injury nor en route to Saudi Arabia to finalise a transfer to Al-Hilal.
Consequently, when questioned about Watkins’ omission from the travelling party, Emery declined to elaborate himself.
The Spanish coach responded that the inquiry should be directed elsewhere. When subsequently asked whether Watkins had declined to participate, Emery suggested journalists contact the player’s agent for clarification.
Pressed further on whether he felt disappointed by the England international’s non-involvement, Emery stated the player himself bore responsibility for explaining his position.
Emery acknowledged that difficulties surrounding player availability had persisted throughout his tenure whenever transfer windows neared their conclusion. He praised those who featured in the match for maintaining the mentality he demands, emphasising their refusal to make excuses despite the heavy loss.
The former Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain boss noted his squad approached the encounter with focus and enthusiasm, demonstrating their ability to compete under challenging circumstances. However, he admitted defensive errors allowed Brighton to score four goals in a 25-minute spell, fundamentally undoing their efforts and leaving them emotionally disoriented.
At half-time, Emery revealed discussions with his squad centred on their response and their determination to fight until the final whistle. He expressed satisfaction with their second-half performance, which reflected the squad’s growing maturity as they continue building towards future challenges.