Christian Eriksen exclusive: Manchester United midfielder on facing 'massive, incredible’ Jose Mourinho
Published 24/10/2024 at 14:21 GMT+1
Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of Manchester United’s UEFA Europa League clash away to Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce, Christian Eriksen admitted he is looking forward to taking on his former manager. United are yet to register a win in Europe this season but Eriksen is hoping they can build on their comeback victory over Brentford last Saturday. Stream the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League live on discovery+.
'Special to play against him' - Eriksen relishing showdown with 'incredible' Mourinho
Video credit: TNT Sports
Christian Eriksen is relishing the prospect of taking on his former manager Jose Mourinho as Manchester United travel to Turkey to face Fenerbahce in the UEFA Europa League, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Eriksen worked with the enigmatic Portuguese manager during his time at Tottenham before both of their paths took them away from the north London club.
Prior to his time at Spurs, Mourinho was at the helm at United and won the Europa League at the end of the 2016/17 season before he was sacked in December 2018.
Despite his dismissal, Mourinho has insisted he harbours no ill will for his former club as he prepares to mastermind a victory over Erik ten Hag’s side.
Asked about his former boss, Eriksen told TNT Sports: “He has a few old teams. He has a long and very respected career, so hats off.
“But he’s still Mourinho... so it’s special to play against him. He is a massive, massive name in the football world and what he’s achieved as a manager is incredible.”
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United are yet to register a win in Europe during what has been another tumultuous start to a campaign under Ten Hag.
They drew 1-1 at home with FC Twente and then let a 2-0 lead slip to fall 3-2 behind away to Porto before Harry Maguire’s header rescued a late point.
Those results flanked a harrowing 3-0 loss at home to Spurs, but they are coming into the fixture on the back of a comeback win over Brentford in the Premier League last Saturday.
It’s now up to the players to kick on from what was a first domestic win in more than a month and build some momentum.
“I do believe in momentum,” Eriksen continued. “I also think at the same time confidence is something that’s more important than momentum.
“I think the momentum arrives after you’re feeling confident of winning games and then you can really get a line going and that’s what we’re aiming for after every win.
“Again, it is down to us to get that going.”
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Eriksen: 'Really good' to be back in Man Utd starting XI
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'Everyone believes in his qualities' - Ten Hag on Eriksen
Eriksen, a regular starter when he first arrived at Old Trafford, has been in and out of the team over the past two seasons, but he has enjoyed a run of seven starts in United’s last eight games.
His progress was blighted by injury, but Ten Hag is in no doubt of his ability and what he still has to offer an attack that has found the net just seven times in eight Premier League games so far.
“He’s often performed very well but he had a couple of injuries and that doesn’t help of course,” Ten Hag said. “Then also, in a season a team is getting into a formation and you have to be in that formation and now it develops for him in the right way.
“But everyone believes in his qualities. We need his qualities because he can link the game, he is a creative player and can create chances for us, and obviously that’s what every team needs.
“There are not so many players who have the qualities and abilities of Christian Eriksen.”
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'We have to stop this' - Ten Hag on United throwing away leads ahead of Fenerbahce tie
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United’s struggles going forward have been mirrored by those in defence. Already this season, they have shipped three goals against Liverpool, Spurs and Porto, displaying the fragility that still remains within the group.
It’s little wonder, then, that Ten Hag is hoping his players are able to show more resilience when setbacks occur, like they might do against Fenerbahce.
“It will be an ambience that will be electric and so moments can change [the game],” the Dutchman added. “So hopefully we did learn from the past where we were in the game and then we got turned around.
“We have to stop this process and put this in the right direction, but first of all we have to get a foothold in the game.”
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Stream the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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