Eric Dier admitted that it must have been a difficult few days for England teammates Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford following Tottenham’s 6-1 thrashing of Manchester United last Sunday but insisted that being away with England would have helped the pair take their minds away from the defeat.
Dier and Harry Kane were both involved as Spurs ran riot at Old Trafford, with reports indicating that the Manchester United dressing room was in disarray at the defeat (Athletic).
Both Maguire and Rashford are expected to start for the Three Lions in their Nations League clash against Belgium later this evening after being rested for England’s friendly win over Wales on Thursday.
When asked if it was awkward when Rashford and Maguire met with the Spurs players on England duty, Dier said during pre-match press conference (via Sports Mole): “I have been in that place, coming into international camps after losing to players in the team the game before.
“Personally and all the Tottenham players have a good relationship with Marcus (Rashford) and Harry and nothing changes that.
“I am sure it would have been a difficult couple of days for them but once you get into the routine here and the focus changes I think it would have been nice for them as well to focus on something else.”
Maguire, who is expected to partner Dier at centre-half for Sunday Evening’s clash, came in for particularly harsh criticism for some of his defending against Tottenham last week.
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However, Dier insisted that he has no doubt about the quality the former Leicester man possesses.
The 26-year-old added: “I can’t really speak on the criticism after the game, I don’t pay any attention to that and it is not my business but he is a fantastic player.
“To play for Man Utd and play for England and to have played to the standard he has for both… and what he has done for England as well, the impact he has had on the team since he arrived with England and the way he played at the World Cup and since then, he has shown fantastic consistency. He is a very important player for both teams.
“For me, it is a pleasure to be with him, the last camp he wasn’t here, but he is someone I respect a lot as a player and person as well.”
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