Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has provided an update on Youri Tielemans’ fitness as the team prepares for a decisive Premier League clash against Manchester United. Tielemans, who has been sidelined due to a calf injury, could play a crucial role in Villa’s quest for a top-five finish and potential Champions League qualification.
Unai Emery said: “He trained today, the first day he trained with the group, and tomorrow he’ll train again.”
Rudi Garcia explained: “Obviously, there’s the final match for Aston Villa this weekend, and it’s very important because the top of the table is very tight in the race for Champions League qualification. What matters is that Youri is fully recovered – not necessarily that he plays in the last match. He’s already played plenty this season. I think he’s the player who has played the most. I would even say it’s not surprising that he got injured, because to me, he played too much. Sure, Amadou Onana was injured for a while, but I think within Aston Villa’s squad, there were ways to give him some rest at times.”
Garcia continued: “I know Boubacar Kamara well, because I was the one who gave him his debut at Marseille. He was a central defender, and I turned him into a midfielder. That speaks to the kind of position changes we could consider, maybe even at right-back, with players from the national team. They have McGinn who can play there too… So in my opinion, they really had plenty of players to give Youri a break and avoid injury. Apparently, it’s not too serious, but it’s the calf. And personally, I don’t like calf injuries because they’re sneaky. I don’t know if that makes sense – they’re insidious. That’s why I’m telling you that if he doesn’t play, it’s not a problem. I’d rather we take care of his recovery ourselves. At least that way, we’ll be sure of the quality of the recovery.”
Emery responded: “I am focused of course how he is doing the process with us, this year and last year. We have very good professional coaches and physios and doctors here. We are always extremely demanding to choose how we are playing with the players. I am so happy with him. Maybe other people can’t have the same information we have every day to make our decision.”
Tielemans’ potential return comes at a critical juncture for Aston Villa. The team has secured victories in their last two matches against Bournemouth and Tottenham, even in his absence. These wins have kept their Champions League hopes alive. To secure a top-five finish, Villa must not only triumph over Manchester United but also rely on Chelsea failing to beat Nottingham Forest or Newcastle United not winning against Everton. Additionally, Manchester City must avoid a loss to Fulham for Villa to secure their spot in the Champions League with a victory at Old Trafford.
The situation underscores the importance of Tielemans’ fitness, as his presence could be pivotal in achieving Villa’s European aspirations. Emery’s comments suggest confidence in the club’s medical team and their handling of Tielemans’ recovery, while Garcia’s remarks highlight concerns about player management and the potential risks of rushing a return.
