Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has explained why he celebrated his match-winning goal against former side Brentford and fans on Twitter/X have reacted.
Villa Vs. Brentford
Having gone behind to Brentford on the stroke of half-time, Aston Villa went onto win the Premier League game 2-1, after goals from Alex Moreno and in-form striker Ollie Watkins.
Watkins, who signed for Villa from Brentford in 2020 having made 143 appearances for the club, scored the winning goal in 85th minute after nodding the ball home from a Villa corner.
Watkins, whose every touched was booed by the home support, then appeared to goad the Brentford faithful by shouting and pointing at the fans behind the goal.
The England striker’s wild celebrations set-up an ill-tempered rest of the game, which culminated in Boubacar Kamara’s sending off in the 97th minute.
Watkins 9th goal of the season takes him to joint 5th on the list of Premier League top scorers.
⚽️✨ Ollie Watkins: "There was one person who was abusing me all game. The celebration wasn't to anyone else, it was directed directly at him!" 👀
85th minute winner from OW vs Brentford. pic.twitter.com/X07q5Vf9YT
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) December 17, 2023
Why Did Watkins Celebrate Against Brentford?
Watkins has now explained why he celebrated so wildly against his former club, inisting it was in response to one individual in particular.
Speaking to Sky Sports following the game, Watkins said: “It was a bit of a feisty game, it all spurred from my celebration but that’s not down to a lack of respect for the fans.
“I love the club, the players and staff, I’ve not got a bad word to say against them. But there was one person who was abusing me all game, the celebration wasn’t to anyone else but it was directed directly at him.
“[Thomas Frank] asked me why I had celebrated like that, I’m still on texting terms with him but it’s because of that reason.
“I feel like I’ve done so much for the club and they’ve done so much for me, football’s football and you can have a bit of banter but not when it’s personal.
“If the club don’t believe me it’s up to them – but I’ve explained it to Thomas and he knows I wouldn’t do that for no reason. It agitated me and that’s what happened.”
Following the game, Aston Villa released a statement on Twitter in support of Watkins, which read: “Aston Villa FC wants to express its support for Ollie Watkins and with the utmost respect for the big majority of Brentford fans and for the club, we ask the authorities to investigate this incident to find this individual. Zero tolerance to abuse in football.”
Twitter/X Reacts To Watkins’ Celebration
What better way to shut people up that with a great goal and perfect celebration ✅️
— Blessed (@SalahSpexial) December 17, 2023
https://twitter.com/NUFCPhantom/status/1736560699151720872
The moment Ollie Watkins and a Brentford fan had a heated argument 😳 pic.twitter.com/2DcMUde991
— Harry Sonny Carter (@harrysonycarter) December 17, 2023
Do you think Ollie Watkins’ celebration took it too far?
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