Dare to Dream, says Ollie Watkins ahead of FA Cup semis as Aston Villa look for their first major title since 1996.
Dare to Dream is what Ollie Watkins is preaching as he urges Aston Villa to realise FA Cup dream against ‘bogey team’.
Matheus Nunes’ 94th-minute goal gave Villa a 2-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium, dropping them to seventh place, two points behind Newcastle in the fifth and final spot that guarantees Champions League entry.
Villa will play Palace in the Cup semi-final on Saturday at Wembley. Villa lost 4-1 in the rematch in February, drew 2-2 in the league match the following month, and were eliminated from the Carabao Cup in October in their three prior meetings with Oliver Glasner’s club this season.
Watkins said: “Palace have been a bit of a bogey team for us but on our day we’re capable of beating anyone, and everyone’s looking forward to that. Just bring on the weekend, really.”
Watkins, who signed in 2020, said: “This is the furthest since I’ve been at the club we’ve got in the FA Cup. We’ve always gone out quite early and it’s disappointing. You want to win these competitions and it’s nice that we’re in the latter stages of it.
“I’ve been saying to the boys one thing I set my eyes on when I joined the club was winning a trophy. It’s been so long since the club has done that and that’s the main aim, so Saturday is massive.”