Aston Villa recorded a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Villa Park on Saturday night in the Premier League, with midfielder Youri Tielemans hailing the team’s resilience and determination.
The Belgian international, who has African roots through his Congolese parents, played a pivotal role in Villa’s comeback win, which saw them close the gap on Chelsea to just one point in the league standings.
Chelsea initially took the lead through Enzo Fernández, but Villa’s January signings proved to be the difference-makers.
Marco Asensio, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, netted a brace to turn the tide in Villa’s favor.
Tielemans, who has been in impressive form this season with 3 goals and 6 assists across all competitions, praised the team’s fighting spirit and the electric atmosphere at Villa Park.
Tielemans, who won the 2017 Ebony Shoe Award for the best player of African origin in the Belgian Pro League, acknowledged Villa’s slow start but highlighted their improved second-half performance.
“You could see in the end the atmosphere was amazing. Us coming back into the game made it more special. We fought really well until the end and it was really important to get that win.
“We had a bit of a slow start. But we grew into the game. We had a few chances in the second half. We didn’t threaten enough in the first, but were much, much better in the second. We nullified their threat. They had a few chances but we were there to win the balls and win the game.”
The midfielder also commended the impact of new arrivals Asensio and Marcus Rashford, who joined on loan from Manchester United.
Rashford’s two assists were instrumental in Villa’s comeback, showcasing the immediate impact of the January signings.
“You could tell tonight that they have a lot of quality. They are very hungry and they want to help the team. That is what we want from them.”
This victory marks a potential turning point for Aston Villa, ending a five-match winless streak in the Premier League.
