PSG May Be Spared from Facing Rashford and Watkins Double Act in the Champions League
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery suggested he is not ready to unleash Marcus Rashford and Ollie Watkins as a strike partnership against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Villa needs to overturn a 3-1 deficit from the first leg when the teams meet at Villa Park.
But Emery does not think England internationals Rashford and Watkins can play as a front two yet.
“The next step, if I have time, is to play them together,” he told a news conference Monday. “We did with Rashford playing left side, but now we are choosing more with both playing as strikers. That’s the next step. I want to practice. I want to test, but not now, with enough time.”
Rashford has impressed during a loan spell from Manchester United, with three goals in recent weeks. Watkins has scored 15 this season, including one to set up a 3-0 win against Southampton on Saturday after coming on as a substitute.
Emery said Watkins feels “fantastic,” but he is still to decide what team to play against French champion PSG.
