Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins Criticises Late VAR Decision In Draw Against Juventus

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Aston Villa's encounter with Juventus ended in controversy when a late goal by Morgan Rogers was disallowed. The decision, following a VAR review, ruled that Diego Carlos had fouled Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio. This sparked anger among the Villa Park supporters after the match concluded in a goalless draw. Ollie Watkins expressed his frustration over what he considered a questionable call.

Watkins highlighted the difference in officiating between European competitions and the Premier League. He remarked, "I think it was soft. Maybe in the Premier League, it's a goal. But in Europe, the goalkeepers are protected a lot." Despite his disappointment, Watkins acknowledged that such decisions are part of the game.

Emiliano Martinez made an impressive save earlier in the match to deny Francisco Conceicao's attempt from crossing the line. John McGinn also came close to scoring but was thwarted from close range. Watkins believed that sharing points was fair, though Aston Villa's recent form is worrying.

Villa have not won in their last seven matches across all competitions, recording three draws and four losses. This marks their longest winless streak under manager Unai Emery. Watkins noted that while fans desire more goals, avoiding defeat against a strong team like Juventus was crucial.

Watkins further commented on the match dynamics: "It's a positive result. The fans want to see a lot of goals and we do ourselves," he said. "But the most important thing was we didn't lose tonight." He acknowledged Juventus as a formidable opponent and praised Villa's defensive efforts.

When pressed about the referee's decision, Watkins stated: "Obviously, I have to be careful talking about the referee. But it's different in this competition." He accepted that sometimes decisions can go against or favour teams and stressed adapting to these situations.

Despite not securing a victory, Aston Villa managed to hold Juventus at bay and will now focus on their upcoming weekend fixture. The team aims to break their winless streak and regain momentum as they continue their campaign under Emery's guidance.