“If I need to help someone I’ll help someone, by being a team player.”
On the day Cristiano Ronaldo, Erik ten Hag, Jorge Mendes and Alex Ferguson were all at Manchester United’s training facilities at Carrington, the club released a tranche of Christian Eriksen interviews, pictures and videos.
Ronaldo and his agent could yet be looking at ways to head out the ‘Exit’ door, with Ferguson’s presence at the Aon Complex no coincidence. This was the Portuguese star’s first day back, reporting for club duty after some extra time off to be with his family.
While Ronaldo’s future at United is unclear, Eriksen is settling into his new club and already looking forward to his first run-out(s) in that famous red, black and white jersey. The Dane, who United signed as a free agent after his short-term contract at Brentford, has given his first interview, for the club’s official website.
Asked for his ambitions with the club, Eriksen replied, “Of course, to be top again.
“It’s the dream of the club and the history is now being the best, so I think the only aim is to go as high as possible and see where it takes us. But I think the aim is definitely to win something.”
Christian Eriksen on his footballing heroes
Following a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020, in June 2021, Christian Eriksen was eventually released early from his Inter Milan contracted. He trained, for a spell, with former club Ajax, who were coached by Erik ten Hag, before playing from January to May of this year with Brentford.
Asked how influential ten Hag, now the United boss, was in getting him to Manchester, the Dane said, “Very.
“I want to come here to play football, I don’t come here just for the logo itself, I want to come here and play. Obviously to speak with the manager and hear his ideas and have conversations with him on the football terms was great and ideal for me to get the decision and the possibility of coming to Manchester United.”
During the wide-ranging interview, Eriksen spoke of his run-in with United defender Brandon Williams, when Brentford faced Norwich City last season, and his World Cup ambitions with Denmark.
He was also asked for his footballing heroes, and while he said he had a few, Eriksen named just two. In fairness, both were ballers in their day:
“I had Francesco Totti – mostly because at that age I played a lot of Football Manager, so I had took over Roma back in that time!
“And then after it was Michael Laudrup. As Danes I can pick Michael Laudrup, but I really wasn’t into many idols. I preferred myself to be on the pitch and really just to be outside and play by myself.”
This weekend, Manchester United are facing Atletico Madrid in Oslo, on Saturday, and Rayo Vallecano the following day at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag may spit his squad up for that under-taking, so Christian Eriksen is expected to make his club debut in one of the outings. His goal will be to force himself into the club’s plans for their Premier League opener, at Old Trafford, on August 7.
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