Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has urged Christian Eriksen to be given “freedom” to decide amid speculation regarding his long-term future at the club.
The 26-year-old Danish playmaker, who joined the north London club from Ajax in 2013, is set to see his present deal with Spurs expire at the end of the 2019/20 season.
How important is Eriksen? Five thing to know…
- Eriksen joined Spurs from Ajax – where he registered 65 assists and 32 goals across 163 matches – in 2013.
- He’s since gone on to make 258 appearances for Spurs in all competitions: bagging 63 goals and 80 assists.
- No Spurs player has appeared more under Pochettino than Eriksen (221 matches).
- Eriksen is one of four players to have made 200+ appearances under Pochettino alongside Harry Kane (218), Eric Dier (202) and Hugo Lloris (201).
- Eriksen has created the most goals (68) under Pochettino at Spurs and is the side’s chief creator.
Near ever-present this season, having only missed three Premier League outings – with two of those due to injury, Eriksen has been one of Spurs’ most consistent performers.
So far he has registered five league goals and created a further nine for his teammates. As things stand only Kane (14), Son (11) and Lucas Moura (6) have outscored him in a Spurs jersey this season, but no one has created more than the Dane.
His performances across the last few seasons haven’t gone unnoticed across Europe and he has been regulalry linked with the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Pochettino, fully aware of Eriksen’s importance and contract situation, isn’t pressing Eriksen into a decision and is keen to allow the midfielder to take his time in deciding the next phase of his journey.
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“I am there for him too yes? It works in both directions,” he told reporters when it was put to him that Eriksen had stepped up for the team, scoring once and creating another in Spurs’ 3-1 win over Leicester City, despite all the contract talk.
“We’ve spoken a lot about that, now we need to keep going, for him to continue performing in his best and of course I told you before he’s such an important player for us.
“We’ll see what happens. I think I’ve used a few metaphors in the past about Christian, remember related with my family and my dog. He needs to feel freedom to take his decisions. I think keeping going, so happy with him and we’ll see what happens in the end.”
FIVE things we learned as Tottenham beat Leicester at Wembley – https://t.co/bP8N50cHd0
By @CJSmith91. pic.twitter.com/U4ey70OsML
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 10, 2019
What’s ahead for Spurs?
The recent absence of Kane and Alli has put even more burden on Eriksen’s shoulders, which he has been happy to take on. Spurs, who are fighting on two fronts, have a number of mouthwatering fixtures ahead.
Following their Premier League win over Leicester City, which leaves them five points behind leaders and defending champions Manchester City, there’s a Champions League round of 16 date at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund on February 13, a day before Eriksen turns 27.
A league meeting away to Burnley follows on February 23 prior to back-to-back London derbies. First they face Chelsea (February 27) and will then welcome Arsenal (March 2) to Wembley before visiting Dortmund (March 5) for the second-leg of their Champions League tie.
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