Eric Dier has admitted that the last couple of months has been both mentally and physically exhausting ahead of reporting for international duty.
Given that the World Cup is set to be played in the winter, there has been a massive fixture pile-up this season, with teams like Spurs, who are involved in European competition, having to play two games nearly every week since the start of the season.
Tottenham have also had to deal with several injuries to key players, with Dier himself having to deputise at right centre-back after Cristian Romero was sidelined for the last five matches in all competitions.
The 28-year-old has been guilty of unforced errors creeping into his game in recent weeks against the likes of Sporting CP and Liverpool but he remarked that he is just glad to be able to rest for a week before the World Cup gets underway.
The centre-back told The Sun: “It’s a strange situation. Like a week or so, nine days and it all starts. I can’t believe it is starting. I just want to go home and go to sleep!
“It’s been a really tough period, I don’t even know how long it’s been. It feels like a year but it’s been about six weeks.
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“It’s been really tough for everyone, at every club, players, staff and medical departments, coaching staff.
“It’s been a tough period and I’m just really happy to get through it with no injuries. We have done well to get through it in the way that we have.”
Dier admitted that he and his Spurs teammates have been disappointed with some of their recent results but pointed to the fact that other teams have also been plagued by similar inconsistency.
He added: “Disappointed with a few results towards the end, but everyone has experienced that – you look at Man City as they lost. It’s been a tough period for everyone.
“Of course, the schedule is crazy, I have never experienced anything like it in my life. Playing every three days for I don’t know how long it has been – it’s unheard of. So, obviously, it has been tough for everyone. But that’s been the situation.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I do not think it is fair to be too critical of the Tottenham players, either individually or collectively, due to their downturn in form over the last month and a half.
Apart from the injuries and the crazy schedule, one can also not overstate the emotional impact that Ventrone’s sudden passing had on the players, given how close the Italian was with the squad.
All in all, it feels like the break has come at the right time for Tottenham and I expect us to be a force when the campaign resumes on Boxing Day.
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