Tielemans On City's Ambitions, Personal Improvements & 'Quality' Belgium
The 3-1 victory over Wales for Belgium at OH Leuven's King Power at Den Dreef Stadium on Wednesday was Tielemans' 47th appearance of the season in all. It's a campaign which began with a 2-0 victory over Denmark on 5 September, a week prior to City's Premier League opener at West Bromwich Albion.
Leicester's Uccle-born midfielder, who became the youngest Belgian to play in the UEFA Champions League at the age of 16, has so far starred in the Premier League, Emirates FA Cup, Europa League, FIFA World Cup Qualifying, UEFA Nations League and a host of international friendlies in just seven months.
His superb 52nd-minute strike against Manchester United on Sunday, meanwhile, provided the Foxes with a lead en route to a 3-1 triumph at King Power Stadium, securing the Club's first FA Cup last-four appearance since early April in 1982 – 39 years ago.
Speaking after his 39th outing of the season for Brendan Rodgers' men and ahead of joining team-mates Timothy Castagne and Dennis Praet in Belgium, the 23-year-old caught up with LCFC TV to take stock on an extraordinarily impressive campaign to date for the former Anderlecht and AS Monaco man.
"It's been good with ups and downs, like in every season, but I think we've managed it well," Tielemans says at LCFC Training Ground. "I think we've been very consistent this season up until now. It's nine games (in the Premier League) to go which are maybe the most important of the season.
"If we can keep this place and stay up there until the end it's going to be a successful season.
"[There is] a lot of hunger. That's the word, really. I think our hunger is right up there. We want to finish strong, like we started strong, so that's the message."
Despite the enormous stresses placed on his body throughout the 2020/21 season to date, Tielemans insists he is feeling strong – proved by the ever-improving nature of his displays in blue, particularly on Sunday, as Leicester knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup.
"Yes, my body's doing really fine," he adds. "My head as well, so I'll keep that until the end of the season. Obviously, we have to manage our bodies and to look after ourselves in between the games and then in the game, just don't think, and give everything.
"I think it's representative of the team. I've been doing really well the whole season and I've been even more consistent than I was last year. Now, it's just about the team, really, to finish stronger, stay up at that level and hopefully we will be successful as a team and me as an individual as well."
Leicester are currently third in the Premier League standings and have netted 78 goals in all competitions, aided by four players – Jamie Vardy, Harvey Barnes, Kelechi Iheanacho and James Maddison – already being in double figures for the season.
Tielemans, currently on eight goals, is keen to increase his own tally with at least 10 competitive fixtures yet to be contested by the Foxes between now and the end of the season.
"It is very important because you can't rely on just one player," he continues.
"I think we've got players that are coming up [with goals] and players that are showing themselves as well and being more clinical and more successful.
"It's really good for our team and the threats can come from anywhere now, which is great."
Belgium's maiden international break of 2021 got off to the perfect start on Wednesday evening as goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Thorgan Hazard and Romelu Lukaku enabled Roberto Martínez's men to defeat Danny Ward's Wales in Leuven.
Tielemans started at Den Dreef, while Castagne was a second-half substitute, and Dennis Praet was unused on the bench. City's No.8 went on to explain the sense of pride which representing his country brings him personally and the collective spirit which exists within the Belgium squad.
"It's always nice and I think, personally, we are with Belgium in a very good squad," he explains. "We've known each other for a few years already and we have, obviously, a lot of quality in the squad and we enjoy ourselves on the pitch.
"So yes, it's always very nice to be in and around the guys and to go away for 10 days and then come back here and finish the job hopefully in a good way. It's always exciting. It's a dream come true when you get into the national team and represent your country.
"That's THE achievement when you're a football player because that's where you want to be. You have to really enjoy the moment and play the best you can."