In an interview Christian Eriksen spoke to Sky Sports about how Mauricio Pochettino has transformed Tottenham, and why Harry Kane is the perfect striker to play with.
“A lot has happened in the last few years,” Christian Eriksen told Sky Sports.
Our 25-year-old midfielder will tonight contest a make-or-break World Cup play-off with Denmark against the Republic of Ireland and then face a potentially explosive north London derby.
The article says how it’s been four years since he arrived at Spurs as part of the “magnificent 7” purchased to offset Gareth Bale’s departure to Real Madrid. It adds that once then managers came and went in the tumultuous period that followed, but Eriksen’s place was the only thing never in doubt. Christian is now one of the club’s longest serving players and has been a key component of our transformation under Mauricio Pochettino.
“A lot of things have changed,” he continues. “Everything, really, both on and off the pitch. Everything has been put into what we all wanted at Spurs. Everybody wanted to become a top team and that is what we have tried to do. I think we are getting closer than ever before.”
The article adds how we have improved from season to season since Pochettino’s appointment but with Manchester City’s record-breaking start to the campaign it suggests it will be difficult to take the final step and win the Premier League title this year, however the club made it’s biggest statement yet with last week’s emphatic 3-1 win over Real Madrid.
It continues adding that Eriksen has missed just five Premier League games out of 125 under Pochettino. Eriksen said:”He has given stability not only to me but to the whole club,”
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“That’s the main thing for a player. You feel comfortable, you feel aware of everything around you and you don’t think about anything other than football when you’re on the pitch. All the players have long-term contracts. They feel safe being here. It’s why you commit your future to a place like this.”
The article adds that Pochettino has referred to Eriksen as Tottenham’s ‘special one’ and the admiration is certainly mutual. “He gives his players a lot of confidence and he trusts to let them play,”:added Eriksen. “I have played a lot of games under the manager now. He knows what I’m good for and what I’m not good for but he trusts me completely. You feel that trust and it makes you want to do everything for him.”
Eriksen adds that the trust runs right the way through Tottenham’s young, hungry squad. “We are young lads who want to develop and be even better in the future and play as many games as possible,Of course there is competition for places but it’s different to other clubs where you have very experienced players coming in. It’s a good young group and we all want the same thing.”
It’s a team effort at Spurs and the article says that no player typifies that attitude quite like Eriksen adding that our Number 23 is a cool-headed character on and off the pitch. It explains how he has little interest in chasing headlines and is as calm and measured in the way he talks as he is with a ball at his feet.
“I don’t mind who takes the spotlight,”:Eriksen tells Sky “If you win the game, then it doesn’t really matter. Of course it’s nice to get recognition, but I’m not looking for it. I just do my thing. If it comes, it comes. But it’s not what you play for. I just want to be as involved as possible on the pitch.”
The article goes on to say that Eriksen has certainly succeeded on that front allowing Harry Kane and Dele Alli to take the plaudits but it adds that Eriksen is the man who makes the team tick, adding that since his arrival at the club in 2013, only Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil has created more scoring chances.
On this point Eriksen said: “That’s the player I am,” he says. “I’m the player who wants to create something and to help get the team out of trouble with the ball in certain situations. I’m capable of doing it and I trust I can do it. I think my team-mates know that if they play me the ball, they will get it back in the right way, with the right timing and with the right pace. It’s about feeling the connection.”
The interviewer points to the fantastic pitch understanding Christian has with Harry Kane. “He’s the perfect striker, I think,” says Eriksen, “He scores goals, he helps the team, he can hold the ball, he can use his head. He can do a bit of everything. We have a good connection. Harry knows where to run and I know how to find him, so it’s a good mix.”
It continues adding that Kane loves Eriksen for the service he provides but for Mauricio Pochettino it his work-rate that is similarly important. The Dane may be graceful with the ball but he is as aggressive as anyone without it, regularly topping the charts for distance covered and sprints and setting the pace for their ferocious pressing.
“Our pre-season is always very, very tough,” :he says. “Of course nobody likes to run just for fun, but it means everyone is in very good shape throughout the season. It’s something you gain from playing games but it’s also from training at a higher level. We do that and it helps.”
The article concludes by saying how Eriksen now hopes to help the club continue their seemingly relentless improvement under Pochettino. “Our target every season is to improve on whatever we have done in the previous season,” he adds. “We want to do what we did last year – just a little bit better. After that we’ll see where we end up.”
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