Youri Tielemans names club Aston Villa must finish above to claim Champions League place
Unai Emery's men have reached the last 16 of this year's competition but are desperate to reach next season's tournament, and are just five points off fourth, despite a five-match winless run
by Neil Moxley · The MirrorYouri Tielemans fixed Chelsea in Aston Villa’s sights, saying that finishing above the Blues will lead his club back into the Champions League.
The Belgian international believes that topping Enzo Maresca’s men means will Villa will qualify for European football’s premier competition for the second successive season. Despite a five-match run without a win, Unai Emery ’s side are just five points from fourth spot.
Chelsea are one of the teams lying ahead of them and Tielemans believes that if they can overhaul the south-west Londoners, that a route back to the big table will appear.
He said: “Chelsea are right in front of us. We want to compete with them. Our performance against Liverpool was really good. We had a lot of chances towards the end.
“We were very good. We competed for every ball and Chelsea are a big opponent for us because we want to be where they are. We want to be close to them - in front of them - to get into the Champions League and realise our ambitions.
“We have to believe. We are still in the race. We have a lot of games left but we just need to win them.”
Villa would have expected to take more from games involving Ipswich Town, Wolves and West Ham. Two points from those three fixtures has left them in ninth, chasing the pack.
But Tielemans saw enough against Liverpool to suggest that Villa are back on track.
He added: “It was hard against Liverpool - but we just need to carry on that. We fought really well, created some chances - especially towards the end - and a point is a point.
“The draw against Ipswich was frustrating. They defended really well. When we analysed the game afterwards, I’m still looking for a reason why we didn’t win it. Their keeper had a worldie as well.
“We know we can do better but I think with the performance we showed against Liverpool, we can be pleased.”
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