Aston Villa made it six points from a possible nine heading into the first international break of the season with a 2-1 win over Leicester City on Saturday.
Unai Emery will be satisfied with Aston Villa‘s start to the season, although he will rue chances missed in thew 2-0 defeat at home to Arsenal last weekend.
Summer signing Amadou Onana scored his second goal in three games to put Villa 1-0 up against Leicester before Jhon Duran doubled the lead after replacing Ollie Watkins.
The win was made less comfortable with a 73rd-minute Facundo Buonanotte strike but all in all it was a decent away win for Emery’s side.
There were plenty of positives, with Lamare Bogarde coming in for Matty Cash to make his full debut one in particular, but it was a more experienced head that impressed at the King Power Stadium.
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Youri Tielemans Aston Villa standout performer against Leicester City
That player was 27-year-old midfielder Youri Tielemans.
It seemed a real coup when Villa secured the signing of Tielemans for free last summer after the Belgian’s Leicester contract expired, but he struggled to find form in his first season at the club.
However, Tielemans has started this season a man possessed as he seeks to show Emery he should be entrusted at the heart of the Villa midfield.
Tielemans has started all three games of the new campaign alongside international team-mate Onana at the heart of the Villans’ midfield and the pair have complimented each other well.
Given Onana cost Villa £50 million this summer and has scored in both wins so far, it is understandable that the midfield powerhouse has received the plaudits.
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However, the work of Tielemans is helping the 22-year-old to thrive and he was outstanding against Leicester.
Birmingham Live journalist John Townley was certainly left impressed as he gave Tielemans an eight out of ten in his Villa player ratings and gave him man of the match.
The comments that accompanied the rating read: “Tielemans was excellent in tight pockets and managed to wriggle out of challenges in the middle of the park.
“He played an excellent ball through to Watkins in the opening minutes and rolled it to Ramsey so he could assist Onana for the opener.”
“After being booked in the 40th minute he was treading a tightrope in the second half.”
The numbers behind Tielemans’ display against Leicester
With Douglas Luiz leaving for Juventus early in the summer there was a big hole to fill in the Villa midfield.
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Onana, Ross Barkley and Enzo Barrenechea were all signed to help with that task, but it appears Tielemans has taken it upon himself to prove to Emery he should be the man to help fill the Luiz void.
Against Leicester, Tielemans had 76 touches and completed 52 passes according to Sofascore, one of which was key as his clever free-kick unlocked the Leicester defence for Onana’s goal.
The Belgium international also completed five out of eight long balls and was successful with both of his dribbles in the match.
Crucially, Tielemans was just as good without the ball, winning six of his eight ground duels, making two clearances, two tackles and one interception.
With Villa set for a huge season in which they will compete in the Champions League, Tielemans is doing everything in his power to show he should be a crucial member of the side.
