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Saudi Pro League ‘is Premier League quality’, says Watkins

From The Punch · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • Ollie Watkins scored on his Al-Hilal debut in a 3-0 win over Al-Ahli and described the Saudi Pro League as being of Premier League quality.
  • Watkins joined Al-Hilal from Aston Villa for £51 million and said the club’s performance at the FIFA Club World Cup helped persuade him to move.
  • The victory gave Al-Hilal four wins from four league matches and kept the team top of the table.

Ollie Watkins needed only a few minutes on the pitch to make his Al-Hilal debut memorable. The England international came on at half-time and headed in Sultan Al-Mandash’s cross late in a 3-0 victory over Al-Ahli.

After the match, Watkins said the standard had matched what he knew from England. “The level I saw here today was honestly of Premier League quality,” he said. “The match was very strong physically and demanding, and the quality was extremely high.”

The level I saw here today was honestly of Premier League quality. The match was very strong physically and demanding, and the quality was extremely high.

· Ollie WatkinsWatkins assessed the league after scoring on his Al-Hilal debut.

Watkins joined Al-Hilal from Aston Villa for £51 million last week. He said the club’s showing at the FIFA Club World Cup helped convince him to accept the move, along with its regular position near the top of the Saudi league.

I knew straight away to join Al Hilal when the offer came. I watched the FIFA Club World Cup and I saw how well they performed. I always see who’s at the top of the league and they’re always up there. And look, I want to come here. I want to win trophies and I think this team is going to give me the best possible chance of doing that.

· Ollie WatkinsHe explained why he chose to move from Aston Villa to Al-Hilal.

“I knew straight away to join Al Hilal when the offer came. I watched the FIFA Club World Cup and I saw how well they performed. I always see who’s at the top of the league and they’re always up there,” Watkins said. “And look, I want to come here. I want to win trophies and I think this team is going to give me the best possible chance of doing that.”

The 30-year-old forward acknowledged that he still lacked full match sharpness after training with his new teammates for only a few days. “I want to score in every game,” he said. “But I kept going, kept going, and I’m going to get a lot of chances. Ruben Neves and Serge Milinkovic-Savic are very intelligent players, and all I need to do is make the run.”

I want to score in every game. But I kept going, kept going, and I’m going to get a lot of chances. Ruben Neves and Serge Milinkovic-Savic are very intelligent players, and all I need to do is make the run.

· Ollie WatkinsWatkins discussed his scoring ambitions and his new teammates.

“I’m a bit rusty at the moment, only had a couple of days training, so once I get in the groove, I’m going to be good,” Watkins added. He spent six seasons at Aston Villa after joining from Brentford in 2020, scoring 108 goals in 280 appearances. Al-Hilal’s win was its fourth in four Saudi Pro League matches this season, leaving Simone Inzaghi’s side at the top of the table.

I’m a bit rusty at the moment, only had a couple of days training, so once I get in the groove, I’m going to be good.

· Ollie WatkinsHe described his fitness after joining the club.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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