Sport
Christian Eriksen transfer opens new chapter for Tottenham
A week is a long time in football and what a week it has been for Tottenham. As well as the conclusion to the long drawn out Christan Eriksen transfer, Spurs progressed to the fifth round of this season’s FA Cup and have reignited their hopes of a top four finish in the Premier League.
The latter came courtesy of an impressive win over Manchester City. In the build up to the game, many felt that Jose Mourinho needed a statement victory. One to suggest that he had truly arrived as manager of Tottenham.
Getting the better of Pep Guardiola’s men in a rather feisty affair was the statement that both manager and fans were looking for. By coupling that with a win over Southampton three days later, all is currently well in the white half of North London.
Mourinho will no doubt also be delighted that the transfer window has been locked shut for another few months. With the Christian Eriksen transfer and Danny Rose’s loan deal, it seems as if harmony has been restored to N17.
That’s not to say that the aforementioned pair were ‘bad eggs’ or going out of their way to add a level of toxicity to the Tottenham dressing room. However, you could easily suggest that they weren’t on the same page as their former teammates.
In the build up to the Christian Eriksen transfer, the Dane made no secret of his desire to move on, an announcement that came immediately after defeat in last season’s Champions League final. For every week he stayed thereafter, it caused more headaches for everyone involved.
Questions were then always going to be asked of his desire to put a shift in for Spurs. Anything but perfect performances, would lead to accusations from a fanbase that once adored him. Furthermore, an ongoing transfer saga wasn’t healthy for the clubs involved. With Tottenham spluttering in recent months, there was too much focus on the potential movements of the 27-year-old.
With the Christian Eriksen transfer to Inter Milan finally complete, Spurs should find fewer off-pitch distractions now. Although the squad may be deemed weaker after the loss of Eriksen and Rose, you cannot put a price on harmony either.
Now it seems as if Tottenham are a club who are once again singing from the same hymn sheet. They may be depleted in certain departments but the team ethos has been restored.
Based on their last two outings, it would be churlish to suggest that Tottenham were the better side against either Manchester City or Southampton. However, you cannot deny that they showed plenty of spirit, while also riding their luck at times.
Admittedly this team that won’t get away with constantly riding their luck but the last week has shown that this is now a group of players who are ready to get stuck in and are certainly revitalised after a languid spell under former manager Mauricio Pochettino.
That’s not to say those same players downed tools under the Argentine. At the time it was clear that the former Espanyol manager had lost his motivational powers and whereas his charges were running through brick walls for him before, they were now sprinting the other way.
Despite a rejuvenated squad brimming with confidence, it will still take a huge effort to get Tottenham over the line and return to the Champions League next season. Whether that comes via the domestic route or winning this year’s edition of the competition.
Of course, Tottenham are currently without their talisman, Harry Kane. The next few months will not be plain sailing and if there is one criticism that can be hoisted in their direction, it is the decision not to sign a recognised number nine last month.
However, the addition of Steven Bergwijn from PSV Eindhoven looks an exciting one and, with the Dutch forward opening his account against Manchester City, the hope will be that he can fill the rather large void that has been left by the injury to Harry Kane.
If Bergwijn can make a seamless transition from the Eredivisie to the Premier League, it might just be the shot in the arm his new employers have been looking for. If that helps them finish above Chelsea in the table, the Christian Eriksen transfer will be forgotten and the first few pages of a new chapter at Tottenham will have been written.
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