Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has expressed his delight with Youri Tielemans’s progression at the club, as the midfielder continues to make his mark in his second season with the Villans ahead of their crucial clash with Manchester City.
Tielemans, who was born to a Belgian father and mother of Congolese descent, has established himself as a key figure in Villa’s midfield after initially requiring time to adapt following his move from relegated Leicester City.
The 27-year-old’s journey through Anderlecht, Monaco, and Leicester caught Emery’s attention long before their paths crossed at Villa Park.
“We followed him even before I arrived here,” Emery revealed. “He was playing at Anderlecht, Monaco, Leicester.
“When I was in France, in Paris, he was playing in Monaco. I always appreciated him a lot as a player for my idea, my style to set with the players we have.”
The Spanish manager acknowledged the challenging circumstances surrounding Tielemans’s arrival.
“There was a moment he was not performing in the level he usually had before. Leicester, they were relegated. They were not performing relatively well and he was not performing well.”
However, Emery’s faith in the Belgian international has been vindicated by his recent performances.
“This year he’s been consistent, really consistent,” the Villa boss emphasized. “I think he’s one of the leaders on the field because he’s linking a lot on the field with our style through keeping ball possession and as well defensively.”
The midfielder’s versatility has proven particularly valuable to Villa’s tactical setup.
“His versatility as well is very important, playing as a number six, eight or a 10. Sometimes even last year he played on the left,” Emery explained.
Adding, “His commitment defensively to do his task and how he can help other players to settle as better as possible is his best characteristic as a player. Overall he’s a very important player for us, very important.”
