Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans has delivered a stark message about the club's Premier League ambitions, warning that sustained consistency is the only path to success this season.
Focus Inside the Dressing Room
The Belgian international was speaking after Villa secured a remarkable tenth consecutive victory across all competitions, a 2-1 win over Manchester United on Sunday. Morgan Rogers was the hero once again, scoring a brace for the second match running after also netting twice against West Ham United.
When asked if Villa were still flying under the radar in the title conversation, Tielemans offered a characteristically direct three-word response: "I don't care." He elaborated, stating the squad pays no attention to external noise. "I don't listen to the noise outside," he said. "I know what we're doing, the game we're playing, our tactics. I know the qualities inside this team. We all do."
The Long Road Ahead
Despite the euphoria of moving nine points clear in fifth and opening a seven-point gap to fourth-placed Chelsea, Tielemans stressed the need for perspective. "Well obviously it's positive to be up there," he admitted. "Don't need to lie to ourselves on that. But it doesn't mean that we're up there now and in a few months we'll be up there still. It's going to be down to us and obviously our results."
His comments underscore a focused mentality within the camp, aware of the challenges ahead, including a crucial trip to Stamford Bridge next weekend. The midfielder emphasised that the team's current confidence is built on hard work and a game-by-game approach. "It's still a long way to go. Just keep doing what we do at the moment... we just want to be consistent and see where it takes us," he added.
Rogers' Remarkable Resurgence
The team's stunning run of 16 wins from their last 18 games mirrors the dramatic turnaround in form of match-winner Morgan Rogers. The 23-year-old struggled initially but has become pivotal, scoring crucial goals against Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United, West Ham, and now Manchester United.
Tielemans praised his teammate's finishing and mentality. "Yeah, great finishes," he said. "That's why he's in that form... The way he's been working, he just stayed doing what he did always and at some point he's going to finish well. At the moment he's firing well and hopefully that will last for some time."
With the season approaching its halfway point, Tielemans' message is clear: Aston Villa's impressive position is a reward for their work, but the future depends entirely on maintaining their relentless standards. The focus remains firmly on the next performance, not the Premier League podium.
