"To kids playing non-League, the dream isn’t over. Keep going." Ollie Watkins and the power of belief.
“I feel that whatever you put into the universe you can get back.” So says Ollie Watkins. It’s quite a philosophical flourish in the build-up to a big football match but it embodies Watkins’ “manifesting” positive outcomes
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Watkins’ long journey to the top in football, and scoring the goal which has taken England into this Sunday’s European Championship final against Spain in Berlin, has been powered by belief. He’s always manifested that he’d make it. He’s always has this faith he will score. It’s why his journey from Exeter City in League Two to Aston Villa and England via Brentford and a loan at non-League Weston-super-Mare, so fascinates people.
They want to know what qualities have propelled him up the pyramid. Hard work, relentless practice, good coaches and a support network all play a part. And self-belief makes dreams reality. Friends and England players like Dean Henderson and Cole Palmer were all involved in Watkins’ manifesting his winning goal against the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday.