Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand is concerned about Christian Eriksen’s ‘situation’ at Manchester United with the midfielder out of favour with the Premier League giants.
Given his vast experience and his importance to Hjulmand’s set-up, there was never any suggestion that the Denmark boss would follow the advice of Thomas Graversen and drop the veteran playmaker from his squad for March’s friendlies.
But, still, no one is under any illusions about the position Christian Eriksen finds himself in at Manchester United, and the issues his lack of regular match action could cause for a country who could do with their biggest stars featuring week-in, week-out at club level.
Eriksen has played in just one of Man United’s last seven Premier League games. The former Tottenham Hotspur, Inter Milan, Ajax and Brentford ace did not even get off the bench during Saturday’s 2-0 Alejandro Garnacho-inspired victory over Everton at Old Trafford.
No wonder Hjulmand is concerned. Especially with the Euros now only three months away.
Christian Eriksen out of favour at Manchestre United
“It is not the best situation, as it is right now,” the former Mainz boss tells Tipsbladet. “I really, really hope it changes.
“I’m pretty sure we’ll see a fit Christian. I know he is (fit). But it is clear that, if this continues, then for Christian it can be like it is with everyone else. There may be a concern about the level you can perform at if you don’t get more playing time than what (Eriksen is getting) at the moment.”
Starting only 11 games in all competitions, Eriksen is the player who has lost the most from Kobbie Mainoo’s emergence as a key first-team player under Erik ten Hag.
Denmark boss worried
“I very much hope that it changes,” Hjulmand adds. “A player as skilled as Christian has to play, and of course we very much hope that things change at United. Not playing anymore is not the best situation.”
The good news for Hjulmand is that this is likely to be Eriksen’s final few months as a Man United player. A big hit amongst Red Devils fans initially after joining on a free transfer in the summer of 2022 – we will always have that masterful display against Arsenal – Eriksen has been a player of ever-diminishing returns since that viscious Andy Carroll foul in the 3-1 FA Cup victory over Reading in January 2022.
To make matters worse for Hjulmand, another of his go-to midfielders – Tottenham Hotspur’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – is also finding starts hard to come by in the Premier League.
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