Latest news with #YouriTielemans
New York Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Aston Villa's player of the season: Youri Tielemans – fitter than ever, better than ever
It came as little surprise that Youri Tielemans swept up at Aston Villa's end-of-season awards. His form has been unerring, a still point in a campaign of contrasting emotions. Fifty-two starts in 55 matches — 4,511 minutes — for a 28-year-old central midfielder demonstrated a unique robustness, made more impressive given criticism of his athleticism, physicality and mobility at previous club Leicester City. During his debut campaign at Villa he was frequently sluggish when opportunities to play arose, making just 17 Premier League starts. Advertisement This season, however, he came narrowly close to being Villa's sole Premier League ever-present, until injury earlier this month curtailed things. Regardless, he became the first Villa player to start more than 50 games in a single season since Alan Wright and Mark Bosnich in 1995-1996. Memories can often be short in football and it was only in August when many were pondering where Tielemans actually fitted into Unai Emery's starting XI. Boubacar Kamara was close to returning after an ACL injury and was expected to be partnered by new £50million club-record signing Amadou Onana. A similar scenario a transpired a year earlier, when Douglas Luiz had forged a midfield partnership with Kamara that had left Tielemans making do with either a substitute role or competing for one of the two No 10 spots further up the pitch. Speak to close observers and the Belgium international is a player and character who requires rhythm; he needs regular games and a lot of them to feel fully attuned. Even if he did develop his work between the lines as a No 10 last season, he did not necessarily have the confidence or speed of thought to influence matches. This time has been different. He seized the small window of opportunity as Kamara was weeks away from recovering fitness and ensured he became undroppable and indispensable in Emery's mind. He started the season how he finished it: the gravitational centre of Villa's build-up play. He has grown in presence and authority in the changing room. On the pitch, he directs play and takes up positions to help progress Villa up the field. No player has made more forward passes than Tielemans. Indeed, no player has made more passes, tackles, or accrued more minutes. He became the first player in the Premier League this season to create more than 50 chances and make over 200 passes into the final third. Only Morgan Rogers, possibly the only team-mate to rival Tielemans for player of the season, is ahead in assists. Advertisement More impressively, he has rarely lost a midfield battle, despite being up against ostensibly bigger and more athletic opponents. He is fitter than ever, more intense in his pressing and counter-pressing and such has been the improvement Emery frequently instructs him to lock on and pressurise the opponent's deepest midfielder, knowing Tielemans now has the physique and fitness to make longer sprints and cover larger areas. Tielemans is, in many ways, a throwback. Football has become an increasingly athletic sport, where recruitment can be based as much on physical ability as technical. Those who are technically gifted and would have thrived in previous eras can be left behind if they are not seen to have the ability to eat up ground. An inherently end-to-end game, exceptionally so with Villa a transition-based attacking team, does not exactly suit a player like Tielemans once was. Even though Villa signed him aged 26, scouts and recruitment specialists, who spoke to The Athletic on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, insist there was a perception his best years were behind him. While still young, he had already been a professional for a decade and it was felt, or was beginning feel, like there were too many matches in his legs and it was taking a toll on his performances. It is why the clubs he was previously linked to — Arsenal and Manchester United — were not in the running when his contract at Leicester expired. Villa pounced, emboldened by Emery's affection and the club's recruitment team looking beyond perception and running critical numbers on his data. The feedback suggested he was part of a failing team that was proving detrimental to his own development, rather than any physical decline. He joined as a free agent in June 2023 with a hefty signing-on fee. If he was to leave, Villa would certainly make a sizeable profit that the PSR accounting books would be deeply thankful for. Advertisement Through patience and perseverance, Tielemans has transformed into what was expected of him as a precocious teenager at Anderlecht. He's one of the best central midfielders around, possessing a rare capacity to control the game through the tempo he sets on the ball and ensuring his endurance is up to such levels that no one can hold it against him. He thinks quicker than most, he sees developing pictures ahead of him quicker and is malleable enough to make the same impact either as a deep-lying playmaker, box-to-box midfielder or a No 10. Even when Villa won just six times in 21 fixtures between September and February, owing to a general flatlining of performance, Tielemans was a cut above. Central midfield is one of the most demanding positions, and especially so under Emery. They must have the courage to take the ball in tight areas while playing at maximum intensity. There has to be equal composure and ferocity. Tielemans has mastered the balance, being brave in wanting the ball whatever the situation or stadium while never willingly giving ground to an opponent. This has made him Villa's most important player, a leader and, undoubtedly, player of the season. (Top photo by Mike Hewitt via Getty Images)
BBC News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Your Aston Villa player of the season
We asked you to select your Aston Villa player of the season from the four candidates chosen by our fan with the poll now closed, we can reveal the winner is... Youri Tielemans!Here's what David Michael from My Old Man Said, external said about him: After taking almost half a season to start a league game last season, the Belgium midfielder has been Villa's only ever-present starter this time around.A revelation under Unai Emery, he is now very much the heartbeat of the team. His deeper role limits headline stats, but his influence has been essential for the final poll breakdown
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Player of the season - what fans are saying so far
We asked you to pick your player of the season after our Aston Villa fan contributor narrowed it down to Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, John McGinn and Lucas are some of your comments on your selection, as well as some other names thrown into the ring:Prit: We've had a lot of good performances from different players at different stages of the season and the article plays tribute to that. But my choice would have to go to Boubacar Kamara. When we struggled, he was the glue that held Villa together, for example, playing across the midfield and even in defence. Now that we have got our players back, he is our driving force a la David Platt . The cherry on the cake is that now he is taking shots on goal and scoring! But it's been a very tough decision this season, which is exactly how we want Tielemans. This was the season he showed Villa fans what a class player he really is. A killer passer and a dominant midfield presence alongside McGinn, he has proved the difference in a lot of games and he's played in over 50 of them this Tielemans has been our most consistent player over the season and our most creative player. But the player who makes us tick and is generally man of the match in our best performances is Kamara. If only we could keep him fit for a whole season, we would be two to three places higher in the It's been hard to single out one standout player because we've got quality everywhere you look. But I've gone with Rogers as my player of the season for his physicality, ability to win one on ones and his consistent attacking Youri has changed every Villa fan's opinion this season, going from a player we hoped would be successful to an irreplaceable part of the clockwork alongside Bouba Kamara, making our engine tick. His ability to see and then pick out his target has created some of the most memorable moments of a memorable season. He plays with a smile and has become undroppable. Thanks and big love, Youri!Roger: You missed Ezri Konsa. He'd be my pick, so as he's not included, I'm Tielemans is my player of the season, not just for his consistent performances and contributions in this campaign, but also because of how far he's come since joining the club and not being able to get a start for such a long time. He's stuck at his job, proved he deserves to be in the starting XI - and forced Unai Emery to build the midfield around him. He is probably the only certainty on the teamsheet other than Emi forget to make your selection here
New York Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Unai Emery optimistic Youri Tielemans can feature for Aston Villa against Manchester United
Unai Emery has offered fresh optimism that Youri Tielemans can feature in Sunday's season-defining match at Old Trafford while refusing to rule out Emiliano Martinez's departure. The Athletic revealed earlier this month that Aston Villa feared Tielemans, 28, could miss the rest of the season having sustained a calf injury. Advertisement However, Emery confirmed on Friday that the Belgium midfielder may return for the must-win match against Manchester United, when Villa need a positive result to further their Champions League aspirations. 'He trained today, the first day he trained with the group, and tomorrow, he'll train again,' said Emery, speaking in his pre-match news conference. 'If he's feeling good and comfortable, more or less, without some doubt, he will be with the team and the squad for Sunday.' Sixth-placed Villa head to Manchester knowing they will need to beat United while relying on the teams above — Newcastle United, Chelsea and Manchester City — to drop points if they are to finish in the Premier League top five. Sunday's result will greatly influence the club's transfer plans this summer, though they will need to sell before June 30 regardless to satisfy the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). Martinez's future has been a source of speculation since the 32-year-old goalkeeper was visibly upset after Villa's final home match of the season against Tottenham Hotspur last week, with interest received from Saudi Arabia and clubs in Europe. Emery insisted Martinez was focused on playing his part on Sunday, refusing to confirm or deny when questioned on whether the Argentina international has asked to leave. 'He showed last week against Tottenham that he's focused,' said the Villa manager. 'He's performing very well. 'Some players have some speculation but my only speculation is to play Sunday, to be ready for Sunday and to get our best performances. 'I am speaking with him to focus each match. Then the consequence is coming — if we are playing next year in the Champions League, it's for everybody, very, very important. He has a contract (until 2029) with us.' Villa sit sixth in the league, level on points with Chelsea and Newcastle but below them on goal difference.
Free Malaysia Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Rashford to miss final 2 games of Aston Villa's season
Marcus Rashford's future remained uncertain, with Aston Villa holding a £40 million option to make his loan move permanent. (AP pic) LONDON : Marcus Rashford will miss the rest of Aston Villa's season after being ruled out of Friday's match against Tottenham Hotspur. Rashford's hamstring injury will keep the loan signing out of Villa's last home game and, with their final match coming against parent club Manchester United on May 25, it means the England forward's campaign is over. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since last month and missed Villa's 3-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat by Crystal Palace. His future remains in doubt, with Birmingham club Villa having a £40 million option to turn his loan move into a permanent deal. There are reports Rashford wants to play Champions League football next season, with Villa yet to secure a place in European club football's premier event. Youri Tielemans has also been ruled out of Friday's match at home to Europa League finalists Tottenham. 'Youri and Marcus are not available and Jacob Ramsey is suspended,' Villa manager Unai Emery said Thursday. 'We have to do each step forward, testing and analysing how they are recovering. 'I don't know if they will be available physically (next week), because Marcus can't play next week. 'But they are working every day and they are feeling better.' The Tottenham game was moved to Friday night following Spurs' request for more time to prepare for Wednesday's Europa League final in Bilbao against another Premier League team in Manchester United. Villa were not happy with that decision and concerns have been raised that Spurs' priority on Friday will be to avoid injury. But Emery expects the north London club, a lowly 17th in the Premier League table, to be competitive at Villa Park. 'They are trying to manage to play Premier League and Europa League, how they are performing in the Europa League is really fantastic,' the Spaniard added. 'They are in the final… they are going to play with their better players, they are going to try and compete in getting the best performances to get ready for the final.' Sixth-placed Villa are chasing Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle as they bid to secure Champions League qualification for a second successive season, with the top five from the Premier League entering next term's event. 'I wish to play, I don't want holiday because we are in a very good moment after a long season,' Emery said. 'Now we are very, very motivated, very excited to play in Villa Park tomorrow (Friday) for our objectives we have in front of us to play again in Europe. 'It is not in our hands, but we can have some chance to play Champions League again. We are focusing on Tottenham.' Witness football history in Malaysia as Manchester United take on the Asean All-Stars – it's the clash you can't afford to miss. Book your seat now at before they're gone!
