As Unai Emery continues to get crucial contributions from across his Aston Villa squad with the depth and competition he now boasts, Youri Tielemans has been an exceptional constant amidst it all this season.
The 27-year-old arrived on a free transfer in July 2023, and while he experienced a tricky debut campaign with us as he adjusted to Emery’s demands and carved his preferred role out in the side, the Belgian midfielder has taken his game to a different level this season.
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Tielemans has not only started all 33 of our Premier League games thus far, but he’s been an almost ever-present across all competitions, contributing four goals and 10 assists in 49 appearances, with his goal contributions coming despite playing in a deeper role in our midfield pivot.
That tireless show of steel has been an impressive feat in itself as his availability and reliability have been major strengths for us this season, dismissing suggestions earlier in his career that he was perhaps not in ideal shape or injury prone.
It’s clear that he has put in serious work to get his conditioning and fitness to an elite level, as to play so consistently and at such a high level, in the Premier League no less with the demands and pace of the game in England’s top flight, is no easy task for the best of players.
Yet Tielemans has done that, and in turn he’s been the midfield metronome and orchestrator that makes us tick, with his composure, technical ability, vision and passing range allowing him to dictate and control tempo and possession, and ultimately be Emery’s brain on the pitch as the majority of our good play goes through him one way or another.
Add his tenacity and work-rate to the mix, the Belgian international has been the complete midfielder for us, and deservedly, he’s getting the praise to back it up as his excellent form and influence is being recognised.
Tielemans has the vision, positional and tactical intelligence and ability on the ball to spot things that other players simply don’t, and so while his assists and defence-splitting passes will get the plaudits and be singled out for analysis, it’s just one part of his game that is helping him operate at an elite level.
The departure of Douglas Luiz has essentially cleared the path for him to become the heart and creative hub of Emery’s Villa, and whether it’s Boubacar Kamara or Amadou Onana alongside him or if he’s playing in a more advanced role, Tielemans has gone through the gears and is relishing life under the Villa boss, and it’s hoped that it continues through to the end of the season as we continue our pursuit of crucial objectives, and well beyond.
