Ollie Watkins reveals he has spoken to Michael Owen about his ‘difficult’ season

Kelly Somers: Ollie, let’s go back to the beginning. I want to know where your love for football came from and if you can remember the first time you had a ball at your feet.

Ollie Watkins: Ah, it was a long time ago now!

What are you doing? You were so young you couldn’t remember…

What happened? Yes, I was very young. My mom always said that as soon as I could walk, I was kicking balls around and stuff. Then, whenever I went out to play, I would always come back with a football.

What are you doing? What, you stole another kid’s soccer ball?

What happened? I would find footballs around and I had a collection of different footballs. I was playing with my siblings on the street etc. One day my friend came and was going to go to football practice later, but I didn’t have a team. He told me to come with him and then it all started from there.

What are you doing? So this was your first team. What can you remember about your first session with them?

What happened? It was just different. I was used to playing football in the park with my friends. It’s a little bit more…it was still fun, but obviously there’s a little bit of coaching and stuff like that. Then I realized I was pretty good at it and kept going.

What are you doing? At what point did you realize, ‘Okay, maybe I have something that other kids don’t?’

What happened? To be honest, there was one player who played on my team… actually his father also managed the team… he was the best player. And I always wanted to get a little closer to him and really be like him.

I don’t think he would have thought about that at that age. You’re just playing football. Maybe when you get into academies and things like that you start thinking about doing it more seriously and thinking about the level you’re at. But back then – and I think that’s the fun part of being young – you go out and play. There are no rules. You can run anywhere. I think that’s the fun part of football at that age.

What are you doing? A lot has happened on your journey and this is not your typical route. Exeter were the first to sign you, weren’t they? But that wasn’t the easiest way either, was it?

What happened? No, I went to a hearing when I was nine. I didn’t go in and they told me to come back in six weeks but I couldn’t concentrate. I was always looking around and stuff like that, so when I came back six weeks later I didn’t feel like I was going to be healed. I needed to go back and play with my friends and enjoy it because at that age it’s very serious.

What are you doing? So you didn’t come back after six weeks? Decided not to?

What happened? No, I came back after two years. I got into the academy and then yeah, I think I was there until I left at 21.

What are you doing? I know this was a long time ago but when you were nine years old it must have been your dream to play for your local team. Do you remember what it felt like to be told, ‘No, I’m sorry, this isn’t for you right now’? Or were you able to enjoy football again?

What happened? They weren’t saying, ‘Oh no, you’re not good enough.’ It was a fact that I couldn’t focus any more. That’s what they told me anyway. But I saw it this way… I went and played more football and enjoyed it. And I guess I saw that as a bit of a blessing. At that age you just want to go out and play, have the freedom to express yourself. So I went and did that. Then when I got into it I was ready to focus more.

What are you doing? You also went on some loan spells when you were at Exeter. I know Weston-super-Mare is pretty big, right?

What happened? Yes, I think this was very important in my development. Matt Jay, one of my best friends at the time, made his debut at I think 16 years old. Frankly, I was very happy for him. He was my best friend, but I was so jealous of him because you wanted that to be yours.

But going on loan definitely helped me, because at the time I felt like… I had experienced playing men’s football. I just learned to fight for three points. People had mortgages to pay and so on and I didn’t understand that because I was just playing reserve team football and playing games where I could win 5-0 or lose 5-0, it didn’t matter. Going out there and playing for three points was a real learning curve for me and it definitely helped me. I learned a lot that year.

What are you doing? Of course you made it at Exeter and the rest is history because that’s where the rest of your journey began. But was there a turning point in the process where you looked back and thought, ‘Okay, all this… I wouldn’t be the England national team player who scored that goal at Euro 2024, played in the Champions League… none of this would have happened if it wasn’t for him?’

What happened? I think there is also an element of luck. I remember the day I broke into the first team at Exeter. Ryan Harley, one of the main midfielders, was sick that day. I played, I scored and I stayed in the team and did a good job.

But from now on, I only think about working hard. When I made the jump to Brentford I was a bit surprised at how well I did it.

What are you doing? Really?

What happened? Yeah, I guess because when you’re young, you look at the players you want to play against… you look them up on YouTube and then the next thing you know, football is changing so fast that you might be playing with players you once watched or aspired to be like. I think it’s just hard work and timing; I guess everything falls into place naturally.

What are you doing? It’s hard to believe sometimes, because you… you can control so much, but you can’t control your luck? Or can you?

What happened? Yeah, I think it’s something I’m still coming to terms with. You can do your best during the week and give your best to the game, but sometimes things are out of your control. There are times when we are alone, you know. You can’t take your friends, family and closest people everywhere.

You have to work hard, you have to do it on your own, and at the end of the day you have to persevere; If you keep working hard, it will pay off.

What are you doing? What was your toughest moment?

What happened? The hardest moment for me was probably… in my entire career… I would probably say this season. Just because I’ve done so well to get to where I am now, in the Premier League… we’ve had a bit of a bad situation… I’ve scored goals. And then you set your expectation… I think I reached a new level by scoring goals and being in Europe. This goal… I think all eyes will be on you after the Euros.

I couldn’t reach the level I wanted this year. So learning to deal with this is difficult. And look, it can always change. Football can always change. This will be a game where you can go on the pitch and score three goals and then everyone will talk about you as ‘Oh, he’s fit again’.

I think the change that comes with not being at the level you want to be… I think this year has been difficult for me. But I am always confident in my ability and I work so hard that I know I can get back to the level I reached in previous seasons.