Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans has dismissed speculation suggesting there are issues between him and Unai Emery, and has discussed his role at the club thus far.
The 26-year-old arrived on a free transfer this past summer, and was considered a key signing to add quality, experience and competition to the Villa squad as we look to compete on multiple fronts moving forward.
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While he has made 13 appearances across all competitions so far this season, those have largely been off the bench in a bit-part role, aside from his heavier involvement in the Europa Conference League where he has started and completed 90 minutes in both of our group games so far.
Early last month, the Belgian international discussed his situation while on international duty, and that in turn led to a split in opinion on his comments among Villa fans. While some commended him for wanting to be more involved and having the desire to help the team by playing a bigger role, others questioned why he was potentially rocking the boat so early on his in his time with us.
Having had another chance to talk about his Villa role this week, Tielemans has cleared up some important aspects of the conversation, dismissing the notion that he is unhappy at the club and suggestions that there are perhaps issues between him and Emery already.
“Obviously when you sign for a club you want to show yourself,” he told The Times. “I’m very competitive, I want to start every game and play every minute of every game, and maybe people don’t understand that but I’m that type of guy. I’m very demanding of myself and I know when I do something wrong or when I don’t play well.
“It’s a challenge at the moment not to be starting and not to be playing every minute of every game, and not to be able to help the team as much as I want to. Maybe it came out a bit rudely because of the mistranslation.
“Since the start he [Emery] told me that it’s a process because it’s a different playing style than what I’m used to, especially from last season and the season before. His plan is very clear with the midfielders coming inside and keeping the ball even more so than what I was used to. For him, it’s a totally normal process. He’s not worried at all and he makes me feel like a very important player even though I’m not starting every game. He’s very supportive and helps every player.
“I’m working really hard and I’m becoming a better player and whenever I get to start showing that [then] I’m sure everyone will be really happy.
“My technical understanding of the game has definitely improved and at the moment I’m happy because I know I’m progressing well. I feel like I am a better player than I was before joining and I’m just working really hard to get better and better. I know I’m progressing well into the system. I know I’m not up there yet with regards to my level because I know I can do much, much better than what I have shown, but with a couple of games in my legs I will get better and better.
“I have seen suggestions that I have fallen out with the manager. I get sent all of that, I see all of that and I laugh because it’s nonsense. The manager has been really supportive since the start and we’ve got a really good professional relationship so sometimes I really have to bite my tongue.
“People don’t know me; they might get a view of me from a couple of videos they see online and whatever. It doesn’t really bother me [what people say]. But when I see that my family gets questions or if fans hear it and are frustrated, that bothers me because I feel like there’s a negative image of me out there even though I’ve not done anything. I don’t want there to be a negative mood around me because I’m a really positive guy, always laughing, always being happy and that’s who I am. I always try to be positive with my football.”
It’s good that Tielemans has come out and made these comments, as it gives a fairer and broader insight into his mindset and how he’s approaching the current situation while also dismissing any negativity around it.
Further, it will hopefully now end those baseless reports about his relationship with Emery, but there is still an important test ahead for him as he looks to convince in the heart of the Villa midfield.
While it’s understandable that he needs playing time to find his rhythm and settle into the side, he also needs to showcase more quality when he is on the pitch, as we’ve yet to see the player who showed impressed signs in pre-season.
It’s clear that he struggles more when asked to play in a wider role on the left side of our midfield, but given his technical ability and passing range, we’ve yet to see the best of Tielemans this season even in his preferred position.
That will be what he’s ultimately judged on, and so it’s hoped that he can gradually develop into becoming an influential figure for us and ensuring that if he is restricted to a depth role for now, that he’s capable of coming into the Villa XI and ensuring that there isn’t a significant drop-off from what we see when Boubacar Kamara and Douglas Luiz are in the side.