Christian Eriksen reckons that there are many “stronger” teams than Tottenham in the Premier League – although he revealed that he wishes that he’d have left the club under better circumstances.
The 27-year-old departed for the Italian capital in January after spending six-and-a-half seasons in England, in which he scored 69 goals in 305 appearances in all competitions.
Eriksen, who started 10 Premier League games for Tottenham this season, was heavily criticised for a lack of effort and fight during his final few months as a Spurs player and was even booed by some of his own fans in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in early-January.
After exclusively telling Danish press that he’d be open to a new challenge just days after Tottenham’s Champions League final defeat to Liverpool last June, Eriksen’s time at the club always looked limited, although he surprisingly remained at the club last summer, despite strong transfer links with the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid.
However, Eriksen finally left midway through the current season – with Spurs desperate to avoid letting the Dane leave on a free transfer at the end of the campaign.
“It seemed the right move for me, as they were very eager to sign me, and that’s important for a player to know he is wanted. It meant they would’ve done anything to bring me in,” Eriksen told Football Italia in a recent lockdown interview.
“Some Tottenham fans got angry when I said in a BBC interview that I had a better chance of winning something at Inter, but that is the truth, there are many stronger teams in England.
“There will always be people at Spurs who are angry with me, but the vast majority of fans were positive and I liked playing for that club. I met some lovely people and have fond memories.
“I would’ve liked to leave in different circumstances, but that’s not how football works.”
I think like Dembele, he hadn’t won anything and wanted a new challenge and a new country. The fact is he has been used from the bench and has a real fight to be a regular starter. He is on a lot more money there, if rumours are right, plus they pay less tax under the foreign players in Spain/Italy tax break. He was a brilliant player for us. I think the sad part is he downed tools and his performances dropped in the last year. Less goals, less assists. He seemed to be going through the motions. The Champions League Final, like so many, there was no urgency or hunger to win the biggest trophy. Los Celso is a very different player, so I think we still need a creative focal player/goalscorer/set piece take. Bruno Fernandes would have been perfect. We missed out there and no idea why we bought Berjweign (cheaper) as we have decent wingers already. We heard Berbatov talking in the last week. Modric has also said similar. Their big regret is no trophies with us and they had to move and then start winning. The Covid 19 virus has come at the worst time for us, with so much stadium debt to pay and so it’s going to cause further delays of our ability to challenge the top teams. We may look on the recent regular appearances in Champions League as a purple patch. I just hope we don’t slip back to being a team hovering between 7th and 10th place again. Only investment and clever signings can get us back involved with the top 4. With empty stadiums for some time, we will stay as a fairly mediocre side. How we looked with Son and Kane out was embarrassing. Great players, but it showed how ordinary the squad is without them.
Eriksen was an overrated shrimp faced pussy.
Eriksen is one main reason there are “many” stronger teams in the EPL.
Spot on. Players moan about the club , but in some cases it is them that is the problem. Eriksen lazy , not wanting to bust a gut to win. Sorry for all the strength & skill Dembele had no urgency, he only got abt 4 goals in 5 years. We need 10 + from midfield players. If you want to be less busy you have to be very , very good not just good. We need Souness & Gemmell types to go with the Hoddles. Walker won stuff at City because of the forwards they have, not because of him. But he was a liability at times for us. I never forget his stupid 50 yard back pass at Anfield giving away a game we were dominating
The point is we have to be fair; would Carrick,Berbatov,Modric, Bale,Walker or Campbell have won things by staying at Tottenham?No one can say for sure,but these guys won a shed load of medals with their new clubs, so who can really blame them.
Granted Eriksen’s form in last 12/18 months of his career fell off a cliff, but prior to that we were on our day as good as any team in the world as we proved and yet still won nothing.
Eriksen in that period was magnificent.
Granted he hoped for a transfer to Real Madrid or Barca and got Inter.
They are up against a tremendous club/team in Juventus but if I had to put money on who between Inter and Spurs would win silverware in the coming seasons, I would, and nothing would give me more pleasure than to have to swallow my words,put it on Inter.
His reasons for leaving must personal.