Unai Emery hails Aston Villa mentality monster and unveils visit to seal midfield transfer

Emery has opened up on the process of bringing Youri Tielemans to Villa, revealing he took the time to stop by in the midfielder’s own home to convince him the move to Villa Park was the correct one.

Competition was fierce for Tielemans’ signature when Leicester City were relegated at the end of the 2022/23 season as the Belgium international didn’t extend his contract and became available for free. Emery went above and beyond to ensure Villa snapped Tielemans up instead of any rival club and the transfer couldn’t have turned out any better.

Admittedly, Tielemans’ first few months were a little rocky as he took time to adapt to Emery’s system, but the playmaker has gone from strength to strength ever since. Now a guaranteed starter week in and week out, the 27-year-old has featured in the double pivot alongside Boubacar Kamara, as a left midfielder to provide creativity in wide areas, or even as an advanced shadow striker.

Emery is delighted with Tielemans, not only for his astute performances but also his elite mentality. And the best part about it is the Spanish head coach knew it would turn out this way from the very first meeting with the player.

“When I met him in his home, our conversation was very important to know him firstly as a man; how he lives his life every day, thinking football. His ambition as well to try to keep being important in his career as a player and joining a club being as ambitious as him,” Emery admitted to the media before Villa’s Champions League clash with AS Monaco.

“He is showing it. He is always ready to play, he is always focusing each match and competing in his thoughts 100 per cent to improve and help the team to follow our message.

“For us, last year was the adaptation for him to us and he had some moments playing in different positions. I think last year was very important in how he adapted to us and how he was understanding how we wanted to build the team with him.

“This year, he is playing consistently, again in different positions because he is a versatile player. His best quality is his mind and his mentality,” Emery said.

Tielemans, taking on a former club in Monaco, is very likely to be named in Emery’s starting lineup as Villa seek to take a big leap into the Champions League last 16. Three points at Stade Louis II on Tuesday night will be enough to secure a spot in the top 24 and it’ll boost the chances of a top eight finish.

For Monaco, meanwhile, a draw will probably be enough to finish in the play-off positions but manager Adi Hutter is demanding victory in the principality. The hosts’ desire to win out under the lights could play into Villa’s favour – especially with a creative wizz like Tielemans on the field.