‘I don’t feel 32’ – Manchester United midfielder happy with playing time

Stretty News

·9 de octubre de 2024

‘I don’t feel 32’ – Manchester United midfielder happy with playing time

Christian Eriksen is happy with the game time he is getting at Manchester United this season.

The 32-year-old midfielder, who is currently on international duty with Denmark, has been a regular in Erik ten Hag’s side of late.

OneFootball Videos

While the club’s Player of the Month was just won by Andre Onana, the Cameroon star had to see off competition from Eriksen, who was nominated as a contender for the September award.

Eriksen has made eight appearances so far this season, scoring three goals in the process. He is now preparing to face Spain and Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League.

In an interview with national newspaper Bold, Eriksen explained his happiness with his playing time at Old Trafford this season.

“Physically and football-wise, I’m fine,” Eriksen said as quoted by ManUtd.com. “The talk when I came into the last [international] session with very few minutes was that it was a problem and now [it’s that] I may have almost played too many minutes!

“It has been great for me to get some minutes continuously, and get some flow, so that I am, again, a player who can play every three days.

“I don’t feel like a 32-year-old, understood in the sense that I don’t feel like I’m about to finish as a footballer,” he continued.

“But, precisely because I am 32, people feel from the outside that you might be about to finish. And I think that is sometimes a bit misunderstood.

“So often age, as a number, is worse than what the player is. I think, there, you have to think about what type of player it is, what position they play and so on. It is of great importance.

“You have football experience and, of course, you also have the age but, if you still have the speed, quickness, running capacity and things like that, then I don’t think there is a big difference between being 32 or 29.”

Eriksen is talking like a player with something to prove. The criticism about his age must have got to him, but what better way to prove doubters wrong than by letting his feet do the talking?

After the international break, Eriksen will be hoping to start against Brentford for United in the Premier League.

Christian Eriksen happy again

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

Back in March, it was a completely different story for Eriksen and he let his feelings known to the media.

Eriksen spoke out about not playing enough games after staying at United, despite being expected to leave Old Trafford in the summer.

“I have previously stated that I am not satisfied with not playing, but it’s not something that keeps me up at night,” Eriksen told Tipsbladet.

“The team is performing, and I must respect the role you have alongside. For my part, it has been about working hard and focusing on being fresh for every game, and I am. It is easier now to accept my role than it would have been before.

“I have had a conversation with Erik (ten Hag) about being unhappy with the situation and wanting to play as much as possible, but I am available and need to be available for the team, which I am and always will be.”

The situation has improved for Eriksen since March, but should he be starting in midfield for United when his best days are behind him?