Christian Eriksen has emerged as one of Manchester United’s best players this season and quite surprisingly so.
The Dane was one of Erik ten Hag’s first signings this summer and at first, it looked like he may have been brought in to provide cover for Bruno Fernandes, the main custodian of the ‘number ten’ position.
Instead, Eriksen has been used in a deeper role alongside Scott McTominay and the pair have complemented each other well, with United winning four out of the five Premier League games they have played together in midfield.
Eriksen was in action for Denmark this week and it looked like he had salvaged a point for his side against Denmark when he scored a sublime strike late in the game.
It wasn’t to be, however, with Croatia scoring almost immediately after play resumed. Following the game, Eriksen reacted to the loss and admitted that he made mistakes.
“Bitter, I think. I actually think that we have a relatively even match,” Eriksen told Tipsbladet after the game, via Sport Witness.
“In the first half we are fine and create enough opportunities compared to them – and then they score at a bad time, so it’s a bit of a mixed feeling during the match.
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“Personally, I make a lot of mistakes, which means that they come into play in some dangerous situations. So, it’s the little things that make us not good enough.”
Denmark now sit second in their UEFA Nations League group and will face France next week in their final game, with Raphael Varane expected to line up against his Old Trafford team-mate.
SN’s verdict…
Eriksen’s recovery and return to football has been astonishing since the unfortunate events at last year’s European Championship and that extraordinary rise has not been limited to club football.
He has immediately regained his status in the Danish national team and once again, he was the player they looked for when they needed a bit of magic against Croatia.
Ten Hag will now be hoping Eriksen makes it out of the game against France without any injuries as the Reds have as many as nine fixtures in October alone.
