Youri Tielemans has enjoyed a very fruitful debut campaign at Aston Villa this season.
The 27-year-old moved to Villa Park on a free transfer from then-relegated Leicester City last summer and eventually worked his way into Unai Emery’s XI.
Given the injuries to Aston Villa’s midfield this season, including Jacob Ramsey and Boubacar Kamara, it meant that Youri Tielemans became an even more important figure, but he didn’t let his team down and helped them secure Champions League football.
That was mentioned when Tielemans came off the bench for Belgium during their opening Euro 2024 defeat to Slovakia on Monday.
Legendary commentator Clive Tyldesley spoke about the midfielder’s importance and how he ‘worked his way into a regular spot’ at Villa Park.
Emery used his free transfer mainly in an advanced role in the Premier League, but he only played deeper when there were injuries or suspensions.
Tielemans was used in the deeper role by Belgium, but within minutes of coming onto the pitch, he was in the referee’s book after what looked like a rash challenge on Tomas Suslov.
But when watching back the replay, it clearly showed the Slovakian star jumping over the Villa man’s leg and then proceeding to go over himself.
Clive Tyldesley couldn’t help but laugh at the incident when Luton Town winger Andros Townsend was watching it back and analysing it, as they told ITV Sport.
Villa’s technician isn’t exactly known for his tackling, but he was harshly treated and you have to question why he didn’t start the game in the first place.
Youri Tielemans at Euro 2024 with Belgium
“Youri Tielemans had a good 2024, he worked his way into a regular spot in the Aston Villa midfield since the end of January,” said Tyldesley, as Tielemans entered the pitch. “He scored a couple of goals against England in March at Wembley. Unai Emery has used him as an advanced midfield player, at times. But it looks like de Bruyne has gone back into that role now and Tielemans will be shoulder-to-shoulder with Onana in the deeper role.
On Tielemans booking minutes into coming on: “Tielemans is very quickly a statistic in the game. A yellow card for the Aston Villa player. He hasn’t played in the Champions League since he was in Monaco in 2019. But that’s where Tielemans and Villa will start next season.
Andros Townsend added: “A good counter-attack from Tomas Suslov. He probably feels the contact and goes down.” Tyldesley laughed and then asked “What contact was that? He maybe clipped the hurdle.”
Youri Tielemans has to start Belgium v Romania
This now becomes a very important game for the Belgians, who face another possible early exit from a major tournament after also faltering at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
You feel someone like Tielemans, given his ability to break lines, control a game and score a wonder goal, is going to be needed from the get-go.
READ MORE: How Aston Villa’s first five Premier League fixtures compare to their Champions League rivals
Plus, if the Villa playmaker starts, then it will allow him to sit deep and push the main man Kevin de Bruyne further forward.
Belgium will take on Romania on Saturday and, after they shocked Ukraine by winning 3-0, this game is now going to be even tougher for the Red Devils.
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