Manchester United have struggled to get it right in the transfer market in recent years. Signing Christian Eriksen on a free transfer has been so good that the deal almost makes up for the many misses.
Eriksen continues to look like outstanding value, and quite frankly, would do so even if United had spent £50 million on him.
Last night he played all 90 minutes in the victory over Sheriff Tiraspol and ran the show from start to finish, helping United to dictate the game.
Christian Eriksen dominates Sheriff
Eriksen’s numbers against Sheriff underline how big a presence he was in midfield, with Manchester United enjoying 75 per cent of possession.
He created six goalscoring chances during the victory, more than any player on the pitch. One of these was the assist for Diogo Dalot’s opener, with an excellent corner kick.
Eriksen is now United’s outright assist leader for the season, with four. He was previously level on three with Marcus Rashford.
The Dane completed 105 of 115 passes attempted, 91 per cent, making 29 of his passes into the final third.
United won the game 3-0, with Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo following up Dalot’s opener.
Alejandro Garnacho made his first United start in the win, and he played well, helped out by Eriksen’s calming influence in midfield.
It has been a long time since United had a midfielder capable of managing 131 touches in a game, and while simple to say ‘it’s only Sheriff’, these are the type of games United have struggled in previously – just ask Istanbul Basaksehir.
Eriksen is also doing this routinely, this wasn’t just a one off. He is a gem, and a summer addition which looks increasingly like a masterstroke.
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