Christian Eriksen says he feels settled on and off the field at Manchester United but will wait to see what his long-term future holds following a summer of speculation.
One of Erik ten Hag’s first signings after taking charge in 2022, the 32-year-old midfielder’s role became somewhat diminished last term and talk turned to a potential exit.
Former club Ajax and Belgian side Anderlecht were strongly linked with a summer move for Eriksen, who not only stayed after the transfer deadlines shut but was thrust into the United starting line-up.
The Denmark international made his first start of the season in Saturday’s 3-0 at Southampton, which he followed up three days later with a brace in the 7-0 Carabao Cup shellacking of Barnsley.
“I feel very good being at United,” Eriksen said. “If they told me to leave I would leave but I didn’t hear that.
“I’m also a guy who likes being in a place where my family is settled and at the same time being in a place where I can benefit and play, that’s always going to be my aim.”
Asked about his long-term future with his contract expiring next summer, the midfielder said: “There’s one year left so my focus is going to be on this year, going full out and see what happens afterwards.”
Eriksen’s comfort and assuredness about his situation saw him baulk at the suggestion he could have spoken to Ten Hag about his role and minutes given the increased competition in United’s midfield.
“It’s difficult to ask the manager in the off-season how many minutes I’m going to get in a season,” he said.
“If he starts promising minutes to players we’re going to have a long season!
“There was no speaking in that sense, just head down, work hard and focus on each game.”
United have scored 10 without reply since Eriksen came into the starting line-up – an impressive response to the damaging last-gasp 2-1 loss at Brighton and 3-0 home humbling by rivals Liverpool.
A midweek brace for our Danish ace 🇩🇰👌#MUFC pic.twitter.com/q8W2vvGzbs
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 18, 2024
The side have a pep in their step as they head into Saturday evening’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace looking to build momentum.
“It’s only two games and two wins, it’s our aim now to keep this consistency – not about scoring goals a game (although) that would be nice,” he said.
“Just winning the games and getting a good feeling going into each game. I hope the weekend we continue that. Big applause to this many fans showing up on a Tuesday night, it was nice to see and feel.”
Asked about the background noise that swirled around United and Ten Hag before these back-to-back wins, Eriksen said: “We were on international break, so we don’t see that much is going on at your club team.
“When you’re away with international team your focus is going to be on that, you’re in that environment so you’re going to read about your national team, the games and the opponents you’re playing, not so much United.
“But when you’re at United it’s always up and down in some weird way with people talking from the outside, so it belongs to the game.”
While United look ahead to Selhurst Park, Barnsley are preparing for League One outing at Burton Albion looking to respond to an Old Trafford mauling that compounded Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Stevenage.
Tykes defender Mael de Gevigney said: “Obviously not the best result for us.
“When we saw the draw, it was an amazing thing to play against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The atmosphere was unbelievable and our fans were amazing.
“We didn’t really show the best performance, didn’t do our best, didn’t do as much as we can. It’s been a tough night for us”
