Featured Image Credit: Getty & YouTube/England
Topics: England, Euro 2024, Ollie Watkins, Gareth Southgate, Aston Villa, Netherlands, Football, Jose Mourinho
Rory O'Callaghan
Topics: England, Euro 2024, Ollie Watkins, Gareth Southgate, Aston Villa, Netherlands, Football, Jose Mourinho
Ollie Watkins has revealed what England manager Gareth Southgate said to him moments before bringing him on against the Netherlands.
Watkins was the hero for England on Wednesday night after scoring a dramatic winner in the final minute of normal time in their Euro 2024 semi-final in Dortmund.
The Aston Villa striker latched on to a pass from Cole Palmer before firing a shot past Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to seal a 2-1 victory for Southgate's side.
England are now through to their second successive Euros final, where they will face Spain in Berlin on Sunday.
Reflecting on the win, Watkins said he feared he would not be brought on by Southgate having been left on the bench for the quarter-final win against Switzerland.
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Speaking on England's YouTube channel, Watkins said: "I thought we weren't going to come on because [Bukayo] Saka scored [against Switzerland]."
Fellow second-half substitute Palmer added: "That's what I thought as well."
"I thought he was going to tell us the Jose [Mourinho]… 'Sit back down'. But it was a blessing that he didn't and we got our opportunity to make the difference," added Watkins.
"He just said go on and win it for us and I think we've done that."
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Watkins may have been referring to a viral clip of Mourinho from last season, in which he told Roma player Ola Solbakken to sit back down after seeing his team score just as he was about to make a substitution.
Reflecting on the win over the Netherlands and his wild goal celebration, Watkins revealed he promised Dean Henderson and Lewis Dunk he would celebrate with them if he scored before the game.
"I did make a promise to Deano and Dunky that, if I scored, I would run over and celebrate with them," said Watkins.
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"That's why I was saying to everyone to come over and celebrate together as a team on the bench.
"Sometimes you can feel a little bit left out when you're not on the pitch and making an impact. Me celebrating with them, I've been sitting on the bench experiencing this, so I wanted to make it feel special for everyone.
"It was nice that they all jumped on the pitch and could be part of it."