Eric Dier has admitted that he is enjoying the run he is having at centre-half and insisted that he has always believed that it is the position that suits him the best.
While Dier’s versatility has been important for Tottenham over the years, it has arguably stopped the 26-year-old from becoming a specialist in any one role.
He has featured as a right-back, a centre back (in a back four as well as back five) as well as a defensive midfielder since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2014.
The England international made it clear in an interview with The Evening Standard before the COVID-19 epidemic that he sees himself in central defence rather than in midfield.
Jose Mourinho has started Dier in the heart of the defence alongside Davinson Sanchez in Spurs’ first two games back since the restart and he has certainly repaid his manager’s faith with two solid displays, which was slightly marred by the penalty he conceded against Manchester United.
The long-serving Spurs star now wants to continue getting better in the position and make it his own.
He told the club’s official website: “It’s not something that changed overnight for me, it’s a feeling I’ve had for a long time.
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“That was always my feeling, where I saw myself and where I thought I could excel the most.
“I’m really happy to be getting my chance to try and prove myself there and I feel like I can really excel there.”
While Dier admitted to being disappointed at giving away the late penalty against Manchester United, he was thrilled that the side managed to keep a clean sheet in the London derby last Tuesday.
He added: “I can still improve on lots of things but I’m happy we got the clean sheet against West Ham.
“I felt like we deserved a clean sheet against Manchester United and I’m really disappointed for my part in that (the penalty decision) having had such a good team performance.
“I thought we defended well throughout the whole game against United, just that sloppy moment, so I’m really happy that we got the clean sheet against West Ham.”
Spurs Web Opinion
While I personally never doubted the fact that Dier had the physical and technical attributes to play as a centre-half, my only concern was if he could maintain the necessary concentration levels for ninety minutes. So far, he has shown that he is more than capable of doing so, while also proving a real leader for us at the back.
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