Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has been delighted with Youri Tielemans' progress during his time at the club
Youri Tielemans of Aston Villa
Youri Tielemans of Aston Villa(Image: Getty Images)
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Unai Emery insists Youri Tielemans is a leader for Aston Villa and has praised the Belgian’s development into one of his most important players.
Having joined the club on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, Tielemans, 28, has emerged as one of the top midfielders in the Premier League, having also won Villa’s player of the season award last term.
Tielemans is set to make his 238th Premier League appearance on Sunday against Nottingham Forest, as well as his 124th across all competitions under Emery, who convinced him to join ahead of a host of other suitors three years ago.
“Youri is here with us, the third year. The first year, he was progressively adapting of us. He was playing less than he expected or we expected, but was in the process I planned with him,” Emery explained.
“And last year, he did a fantastic season, and this year, he had two injures, and of course, (it) stopped him a little bit, but when he’s available, he’s performing like he did last year – so, so consistent, intelligent, on the field he’s a leader.
“The teammates feel confidence, playing with him, and he is getting his responsibility strongly. And, of course, Thursday, the first match again after his injury coming back, playing 90 minutes, I think he showed us again, his leadership and his importance in our team.
“Of course, we must be intelligent, and we must manage different matches. It’s not an excuse, playing yesterday, we are going to play on Sunday at 2pm, but of course, we must be alert on Saturday, the players playing on Thursday, like him for example, how he can feel for Sunday to play more or less minutes in the game.”
Tielemans’ return from injury, which came just before the March international break against West Ham, was a timely boost as Villa have only seven league matches remaining this season, while also targeting progression to the Europa League semi-finals.
Speaking of the importance of Champions League qualification this season, Emery said: “Europe is very important. Of course, I think the Premier League is the first objective we have each year, but to play in Europe is something giving us a lot of possibilities to develop as a club, adding more objectives.
“And, of course, getting prestige for the club, for us, for the workers, the professional people, and for the supporters, it is something as well, amazing.
“Yesterday, they were travelling to Bologna, 2,500 supporters, and I think they were so, so happy, so, so proud of us, and I appreciate, and we are really, everybody, thankful.
“And this is the way I want, and my message is not only to play thinking the end of the season, how long we are going to do this way. For me, the most important is the process during the way.
“And yesterday, how we enjoyed it in Bologna, the day before, when we were there, preparing the game, yesterday with the supporters playing with a huge atmosphere, and a different country, different football, and I like a lot to test ourselves playing in different countries on different levels.”
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