It’s a homecoming with a distinction: to not the place the place it began, however to the bottom the place it virtually completed. Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest on the Parken Stadium pitch at Euro 2020. His life might have ended and, whereas he’s virtually two years right into a comeback, it stays exceptional that Eriksen has returned; regardless of Manchester United’s current travails, he has recovered to play for one of many recreation’s greatest golf equipment, at a World Cup and within the Champions League.
Eriksen has appeared on the Parken Stadium since, most not too long ago in a 3-1 win over Kazakhstan three weeks in the past, however Denmark’s nationwide floor will welcome arguably the best Danish footballer since Peter Schmeichel and the Laudrup brothers. The costliest one ever, too, with the £72m Rasmus Hojlund alongside Eriksen in United’s ranks.
And maybe from the beginning, this time. Erik ten Hag may need erred in United’s assembly with FC Copenhagen two weeks in the past, initially benching Eriksen for a primary half the place the Danish champions have been the extra spectacular facet. With a practised assurance in possession, a Dane helped his facet assume the initiative thereafter.
It appears a comparatively protected assumption that Eriksen will begin the rematch. And but his fluctuating standing is an indication of United’s midfield conundrum, his strengths and weaknesses indicative of the mismatched and really completely different, choices. It’s a simplification to say that those that can run aren’t significantly good with the ball at their ft and people who can excel with the ball aren’t significantly good at operating; however maybe not a lot of 1. The immobility of Eriksen and Casemiro will be points: bringing in Hannibal Mejbri or Scott McTominay provides graft, however on the expense of craft. The younger Tunisian’s hapless first half in opposition to Galatasaray prompted Ten Hag to ship for Eriksen as an antidote; a participant who might mix the Scot’s athleticism with the Dane’s technical potential could also be United’s excellent.
The difficulties could also be compounded by Ten Hag’s choice for man-marking in midfield, typically consigning a much less athletic participant to a seemingly unfair contest; Eriksen spent the primary half of the Manchester derby struggling to trace Bernardo Silva.
Eriksen in motion on the Parken Stadium in 2022, when Denmark performed Serbia
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It could clarify why – particularly as Casemiro appears to be slowing – he reinvented as a specialist substitute. And but, there have been three video games – in opposition to Galatasaray, Brentford and Copenhagen – the place Eriksen needed to be summoned at half-time to repair a damaged midfield; twice United ended up successful, and the defeat by the Turkish facet might scarcely be traced to the Dane, who nonetheless made a distinction.
Damningly and undiplomatically, Ten Hag mentioned he eliminated Casemiro for Eriksen in opposition to Brentford as a result of he “needed extra soccer”. And, for a supervisor who has spent £400m, a 31-year-old free switch, a participant who finds it tough to play 90 minutes, has a novel skillset: Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes can try bold passes, however Eriksen is the one real playmaker.
When Ten Hag tried to elucidate his ethos – and the way he was attempting to fuse the most effective of Ajax with United’s traditions and present gamers – on Friday, it was notable he put Eriksen in a class of his personal; McTominay and Fernandes have been talked about together with Marcus Rashford, Antony and Hojlund amongst gamers who can press within the last third and profit from direct assaults. “With the passing of Christian Eriksen,” Ten Hag mentioned. Maybe, had Casemiro been match slightly than simply dominated out for a number of weeks, he may need been bracketed alongside his fellow veteran. As an alternative, it steered that Eriksen is the lone passer.
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The Dutchman’s phrases can confuse. His deeds are instructive, although. Twice, Eriksen was most well-liked to Sofyan Amrabat: first when the Moroccan was introduced off on the break when Copenhagen visited Outdated Trafford, then when Eriksen began because the deepest midfielder at Fulham on Saturday. It’s a tougher technique to make use of when a specialist defensive midfielder is required.
The context suggests Ten Hag’s midfield plans are in ruins. The summer season recruitment introduced in Mason Mount, scarcely a like-for-like substitute for Eriksen, with the intention of developing a brand new trio with Casemiro and Fernandes. It promised a unique dynamic: extra excessive urgent, eradicating one deep-lying distributor.
Return a yr and Eriksen was supplying assists in copious portions. Outcomes steered he and Casemiro have been properly matched: after United misplaced the primary time they began collectively, they gained on 15 of the following 18 events.
How United would accept that form of file now, with any midfield mixture. As an alternative, they’ve the sense that, Fernandes aside, there aren’t any automated decisions now – that the center of the group is in a state of flux. However Eriksen is the midfield’s artist and, as he returns to his homeland, the Danish public can at the least savour the sight of the participant and the person they virtually misplaced.
