As Frenkie de Jong and Manchester United created the transfer saga of the summer, Christian Eriksen slipped into Old Trafford almost unnoticed on a free.
Judging by the 30-year-old Dane’s performances so far, it has all worked out well for Erik ten Hag, and might have saved the Glazers upwards of £70million as well.
Everyone knows Eriksen’s back story. Close to death after suffering a cardiac arrest whilst playing for Denmark during Euro 2020, his career looked over when Inter Milan had to release him in the aftermath because of Serie A rules.
Yet to everyone’s joy, he was able to resume playing with his former coach Thomas Frank at Brentford and did so well, United and Tottenham wanted him – with Eriksen eventually turning up in the north-west.
Christian Eriksen has made a superb start to life at Manchester United since joining on a free
United spent most of the summer going after Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong – but may not need him after all
But the Eriksen tale has now gone well beyond his health. Purely as a footballer, he has brought grace and style back to United’s midfield. He has been able to play the Pirlo-style role that Ten Hag wanted from De Jong but is at his best further up the field, dictating play and creating chances in the final third.
Even if De Jong changes his mind about staying with Barcelona, it’s no longer a given United would need him, with Eriksen already bringing technical quality to a team that’s made do with McFred in recent years.
Though still awaiting his first United goal, Eriksen has become a cult hero on the Stretford End. He keeps possession effortlessly but can speed the game up when required with a killer pass, as witnessed with his supply to Jadon Sancho for the opener in an important Europa League win away to FC Sheriff.
When he missed his first Premier League game against Newcastle on Sunday, the drop in United’s playmaking was evident in a goalless draw. Ten Hag will be keen for him to recover from illness to face his former club Spurs tonight.
Eriksen’s absence was there for all to see as United stumbled to a 0-0 draw with Newcastle
Not only is Eriksen himself playing well, he frees others up around him. Scott McTominay in particular has been able to use his athleticism, knowing his team-mate won’t lose the ball if he goes on a run.
The Scandinavian has turned up for the big games as well. Against Arsenal, he had a major part in two of the three goals in United’s win, spotting the runs of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford and having the class to deliver the right ball.
Not bad for a player who was regarded as an afterthought and primarily a squad player when he rocked up at Old Trafford, not one of the first names on Ten Hag’s team sheet.
Things looked ominous when he was hooked after 45 minutes of an embarrassing 4-0 defeat in the second game of the season at Brentford. But when Ten Hag ripped up the playbook after that, it was Harry Maguire, Cristiano Ronaldo and Fred who were sacrificed – building a midfield around Eriksen and McTominay.
The Dane struggled in the 4-0 defeat to Brentford and was substituted after just 45 minutes
Even from a deeper position, Eriksen has provided assists and made more than 400 passes in the Premier League – a figure bettered at United only by Martinez, Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot.
Manchester City are the only Premier League team to have beaten them since the Brentford debacle on August 13 and Eriksen says of his partnership with McTominay: ‘We are getting a good connection and feeling where we should be and the positions the manager wants us to be in.’
Part of Eriksen’s charm is he can play deeper on the pitch or be more of a No10 if needed.
‘We tell him which spaces he has to be in. He can make a game for you but also switch the play (as No6) when needed,’ explains Ten Hag.
‘If he sees the final pass between the lines he can do that. What he can also improve is his defending.’
Even from a deeper position, Eriksen has provided assists and made more than 400 passes in the Premier League
That is probably the one Achilles heel, against the very best like City, Eriksen doesn’t smell danger instinctively. But United now have Casemiro 100 per cent match-sharp if they want an out-and-out holder.
Ten Hag’s blueprint when he took the United job was to play out from the back with De Jong the link between defenders and forwards.
The inability to sign De Jong, coupled with David de Gea’s lack of confidence on the ball, means the Dutch manager has adapted with more long balls played than he would have originally envisaged.
But by utilising Eriksen’s versatility – he is known as a playmaker but can fill the De Jong position and keep United’s play ticking over – Ten Hag has been able to make progress and exploit the ball-playing of central defender Lisandro Martinez.
The playmaker has shown up in the big games for United, including the win over Arsenal
Perhaps the greatest compliment is from the manager he’s up against on Wednesday night, Antonio Conte.
The pair won Serie A together with Inter and Conte would have liked a reunion at Spurs, but lost out to United.
‘For sure Christian is a player I enjoyed working with and he’s a player I would like to train again, to have him in my squad,’ said Conte.
The failure of United pursuing De Jong and not getting a deal over the line no longer looks as disastrous as it did a couple of months ago.
United fans will be excited at the prospect of Eriksen playing alongside Casemiro in midfield
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