Ollie Watkins praises Saudi Pro League, compares it to Premier League
Ollie Watkins says competition in the Saudi Pro League matches the Premier League and lauds the quality of football in Saudi Arabia.
Key Takeaways
AIEnglish striker Ollie Watkins, who recently joined Al-Hilal, has expressed his admiration for the level of the Saudi Pro League, saying the competition is on par with what he experienced in the English Premier League.
Watkins moved to Al-Hilal during the latest transfer window from Aston Villa, following an impressive season in which he scored 21 goals and provided 5 assists in 53 matches, and also won the Europa League with his team.
Watkins comments after debut
Watkins scored on his official debut for Al-Hilal against Al-Ahli, in a match that ended with a 3-0 victory for Al-Hilal. In remarks reported by Spanish media, Watkins stated that "the standard of the Saudi Pro League is as high as the Premier League."
The Al-Hilal forward added that football in Saudi Arabia is "extremely challenging and has a lot of quality," noting that matches are physically demanding and fiercely competitive. He also described the atmosphere in his new experience as "incredible."
Watkins' future with Al-Hilal
Watkins went on to score a brace against Al-Taawoun in the previous round, but muscle pain he experienced may rule him out of Al-Hilal's opening Asian campaign against Qatar's Al-Gharafa.