Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins says he will watch footage of Peter Withe’s famous winner in the 1982 European Cup final to help inspire him before their own Europa League final against Freiburg on Wednesday.
It has been 30 years since Villa last won a major trophy, the 1996 League Cup, and Withe’s winner in 1982 was Villa’s last success in Europe.
Watkins says he will be analysing that piece of club history before he takes to Besiktas Park in Istanbul on Wednesday evening.
Speaking after beating Liverpool 4-2, Watkins said: “I think Peter Withe is a legend. He came in (to Bodymoor Heath). I’ve met him quite a few times. He came into the training ground last week to watch.
“It’s amazing that he can do that and that we can have a legend around the place.”
Watkins helped his side secure Champions League football for next season after scoring a brace against Liverpool on Friday but he can now turn his full attention to lifting silverware that has long eluded the club.
“For the last couple of league games it’s been hard to focus because we’ve had such highs (in the Europa League) and we’re getting further and further into the competition,” he said.
“It’s been hard to focus on our Premier League form. So now we’ve done what we set out to do. We’ve achieved Champions League football and now we’re going do all we can to win on Wednesday.
“We were meant to do it in that fashion (against Liverpool) and for it to be in the last home game as well makes it even more special I think.”
