Tielemans header keeps Aston Villa’s Champions League dream alive as Emery hails “fantastic victory”
Aston Villa edged a nervy 1-0 win over Fulham at Villa Park on Saturday, moving level on points with fifth-place Chelsea and keeping alive their hopes of a second straight Champions League qualification. Manager Unai Emery called the result “very important” as the club inches closer to securing European football for another season.
Youri Tielemans’ early goal proved the difference in a cagey contest that showed Villa’s resilience more than their flair. And perhaps nothing underlined it more than the way Tielemans powered in his header. The Belgian midfielder rose highest to meet John McGinn’s corner in the 18th minute and forcefully put Villa ahead.
The result extended Villa’s unbeaten home run in the Premier League to 17 matches, a joint-club record that matches a similar streak between March and December 2023. More importantly, it sent a message to rivals about their top-five ambitions. They may be seventh with just three league fixtures remaining, but they’re only four points off and will go down kicking.
“It’s a fantastic victory,” said Emery after the game. “Through the Premier League, we are setting our objective because, through it, we can play in Europe again.
“Fulham are nine points behind us and this victory against this opponent was very important. We did it. We performed fantastically.”
Villa, who were knocked out of the Champions League this season in the quarter-finals by Paris Saint-Germain, have shown remarkable form under Emery, particularly at home where they’ve won 10 and drawn seven, losing only once.
“Even when we were winning 1-0, we had chances, but didn’t score another,” Emery added. “We could have had some problems defensively, but we defended well.
“We were focused on the 90 minutes and we played a good match. We deserved to win and maybe to score one more.”
Tielemans’ impact has been especially noticeable in recent weeks, not only through goals and assists but also with his ability to link play and steady midfield possession. His 10 combined goals and assists match his best Premier League tally from previous campaigns at Leicester City.
Emery’s ambitions for the team remain high, though he was realistic when discussing Champions League qualification.
“We’re not favourites because other teams are in front of us,” he admitted, “but we can continue to dream for it, playing strongly to qualify again for the Champions League.”
Villa’s next three games in the run-in include an away match against Bournemouth, and then two games against struggling Tottenham and Manchester United, who also happen to be distracted by a potential Europa League final.
“The real objective is for us to be in Europe,” said Emery, “and after today we are close to being there.”
