Youri Tielemans is targeting Europa League glory on Wednesday and Aston Villa have no intention of letting their midfield general leave this summer.
- Tielemans scored the iconic FA Cup winner for Leicester against Chelsea in 2021 and now wants European silverware
- Sources report Villa will block offers for the Belgian with Emery viewing him as non-negotiable
- Villa’s record with Tielemans this season (21 wins from 33 games) compared to just 10 from 21 without him
- Champions League confirmation significantly boosts Villa’s chances of keeping him at Villa Park
“Winning a trophy is always special”
Youri Tielemans knows exactly what winning a major final feels like. His thunderous strike against Chelsea at Wembley in 2021, one of the most celebrated FA Cup final goals of the modern era, delivered Leicester City their first FA Cup in their entire history.
Five years on, the Belgian captain stands on the brink of an even greater achievement. A European final. A club that has waited 30 years for silverware. A manager who has won this trophy four times before.
“Winning a cup is always special,” Tielemans told the media ahead of Wednesday’s showdown with Freiburg in Istanbul. “It will feel different on Wednesday. I’m with a different club and it’s a European final, which is different to a domestic cup. But hopefully both will be great moments.”
His reflection on what personal success would mean was equally compelling. “For me personally, I would feel amazing, very proud. But we have to get there first.”
“The Europa League kickstarted our season”
Tielemans also delivered one of the most insightful assessments of Villa’s entire campaign, identifying the precise moment the season turned. After five winless Premier League games, a 1-0 Europa League victory over Bologna in September provided the spark that ignited an extraordinary run of 18 wins from 22 games.
“The Europa League actually kickstarted our season: we got that win against Bologna and from there we just won practically every game and it clicked,” he stated. “We didn’t doubt ourselves. There were concerns about our form that we didn’t have to hide from. But it was more about putting in the work, keeping doing what we do, going back to basics and just keep going. The win is going to come.” That patient, process-driven mentality reflects everything Emery has built at Villa Park and everything Tielemans himself embodies within the squad.
His broader perspective on the club’s European journey under Emery was equally revealing. “Every year has been different: Conference League, Champions League and now the Europa League final. It is a big achievement. I’m looking forward to it, we’re going to have to enjoy the moment and hopefully win a trophy.”
Villa block offers – Tielemans is staying
The transfer dimension of this story is equally significant. Football Insider report that Villa will actively block any offers for Tielemans this summer, with Emery making clear the Belgian is absolutely central to his plans for next season’s Champions League campaign. The 29-year-old is happy at Villa Park and is not seeking a move away: with Champions League football now confirmed providing the additional reassurance needed to dismiss interest from elsewhere.
The statistics supporting that determination are overwhelming. Villa’s record with Tielemans in the team this season: 21 wins, 5 draws and 7 defeats from 33 games, compared to just 10 wins from 21 games without him, represents the clearest possible evidence of his irreplaceable value.
| Tielemans 25/26 season | Stats |
|---|---|
| Duel | 72% |
| Possession won | 59.3 |
| Progressive carries | 42.5 |
| Forward passes | 86.8 |
| Key passes | 80.3 |
| Progressive passes | 82.8 |
Despite reported interest from Bayern Munich and Saudi Pro League clubs, a departure is considered highly unlikely. Tielemans believes he still has plenty to offer at the highest level and Champions League football at Villa Park makes the case for staying considerably more compelling than any financial offer from the Middle East.
ReadAstonVilla Verdict
Tielemans staying is the single most important transfer decision Villa make this summer and the early indications are genuinely encouraging. Champions League football confirmed. Emery’s backing absolute. The player happy and ambitious for more.
Wednesday in Istanbul is the perfect opportunity to add a European winner’s medal to his FA Cup glory and then spend next season proving his quality at football’s highest level in claret and blue. Keep him. Build around him. The statistics demand nothing less.
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