Denmark international Christian Eriksen has said that his current situation with Manchester United is a dream that he is living.
The 31-year-old midfielder almost had an early retirement in 2021 thanks to an unfortunate heart incident while playing for Denmark at the 2020 UEFA Euro Championships. It took him six months to recover from the malaise and the football world supported him until he did.
He was let go from his contract at Internazionale in Italy thanks to a local rule banning athletes with a history of heart-related conditions from participating in competitive sports. Brentford, led by Danish manager Thomas Frank, gave him a chance in the January transfer window of the 2021/22 season.
He made a huge impact on the side’s Premier League hopes but at the end of the season, he chose to move on to a bigger club in Manchester United, where he has become one of Erik ten Hag’s most trusted players.
He reminisced on his last year and half to the media ahead of United’s clash with Sevilla in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday. The former Ajax Amsterdam midfielder said that, while at Brentford, he dreamt about chasing trophies and United is allowing him to live that dream.
“Looking back, a year ago, I was dreaming about where I am today,” Eriksen said. “Back then, it was just a dream of being back playing football and then of course taking it step by step and just being the best version of a football player you can be. And I was lucky at the time that the manager wanted me to come here.
“I’m enjoying it – I did a year ago, but I’m doing it even more now. To go as far as possible will be fun. And where we are now, already with a trophy, with aims for two more, it’ll be good fun.”
Eriksen also spoke about his most recent setback.
The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder is just recovering from a lengthy spell on the sidelines after Reading striker Andy Carroll tackled him harshly in their FA Cup fourth round clash in January.
He returned at the weekend and is in line to start the game against Sevilla.
“I was surprised he [Carroll] didn’t get a yellow card,” said Christian, when asked about the incident. “At the time I didn’t think it was as bad so I didn’t fear for the season. I was more concerned about when [in the season] I was going to be back. The medical staff have done very well, they’ve kept me in good shape and now it’s like I never left so it’s a positive for the medical staff.”
