“I think you call his agent and he can respond.”
That was Unai Emery’s answer when he was asked whether Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins had refused to play in their season-opening 4-0 defeat away at Brighton & Hove Albion.
The manager’s reply has been interpreted in various ways but the one that requires the least mental gymnastics is that Emery meant that Watkins did indeed refuse to play.
That’s not for me to say. Maybe Watkins refused to play against Brighton. Maybe he didn’t. Maybe there’s some nuance to it and maybe there’s not. But Emery, as far as I can see, is pointing in that direction in an accusatory manner.
Villa produced an all-time stinker of a performance and did so without a specialist striker in the squad. Tammy Abraham is injured. Brian Madjo is injured and 17 years old.