Former England and Liverpool striker Michael Owen says he spoke with Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins ahead of a match after Watkins called him for a pep talk. Owen describes a moment during a flight on an Emirates plane when Villa’s game at Southampton is shown live on the in-flight TVs. In the account, Owen characterizes Watkins as “the nicest man in the world” off the pitch, but says Watkins appears intensely competitive during games. Owen adds that he told Watkins this contrast—suggesting Watkins must want to “rip the guts out of” opponents when playing—while discussing what he believed Watkins needed to maintain on-field focus. The available report centers on Owen’s personal anecdote about the conversation and the circumstances leading up to it, with no additional verified details about match events, outcomes, or broader team strategy. The account is presented as Owen’s recollection of his interaction with Watkins rather than new statistical reporting about the fixture.