Eriksen: Negative Punditry Surrounding Man United Doesn’t help Players
WOLFSBURG, Germany – Former manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen believes negative commentary from ex-players and media attention hinders the current squad, despite acknowledging the club’s immense power and scrutiny. Eriksen, now playing for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga after leaving United at the end of his contract last summer, stated that constant criticism doesn’t benefit the players on the pitch.
The comments come as Manchester United currently sits in 11th place after five Premier League games, prompting frequent analysis and criticism from club legends like Gary Neville. Eriksen suggests this external pressure, fueled by negative opinions, impacts the fanbase and ultimately doesn’t create a supportive environment for the team. “You see how big the club is, how much people want to be involved with the club, even on the media attention,” Eriksen said. “It’s just the power of the club.”
Eriksen emphasized the difficulty of navigating such a climate. “Obviously the more opinionated, the more feelings towards the club are negative, the tougher it is indeed, as the fans follow their heroes on the TV and it doesn’t help the players at the club,” he explained. However, he also noted that players at United are accustomed to external opinions and attempt to focus on their performance. “At the same time at United, as a footballer, there’s always someone who has an opinion on one or the other, but you’re just playing football. You try to focus on that bit.”
During his time at United, Eriksen was part of the team that won the Carabao Cup, which he described as a “small thing” but “a big thing at that moment.” He also alluded to a broader issue of standards at the club, stating, “it’s like it’s not good enough. I think hopefully that will change.”
