Christian Eriksen hailed Tottenham’s successful salvage operation in Turin as proof of their complete transformation under Mauricio Pochettino and readiness to compete for the big trophies.
Three years ago, Eriksen was stalling on a new contract and eyeing a move to Juventus because he thought he might have to leave north London to fulfil his Champions League ambitions.
Since then, Spurs have made great progress, breaking into the top four in the Premier League and, this season, are competing with teams such as Juve, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in Europe.
Christian Eriksen believes Tottenham are now ready to compete for the biggest trophies
Eriksen signed a new long-term deal in September 2016 and was the hero of the 2-2 draw against the Italian champions on Tuesday.
‘Compared to what it was when I came, Tottenham is completely different,’ said the 26-year-old Dane. ‘That’s up to the manager, up to the players and the quality we have in the squad.
‘We are building on every season. When I arrived here, the games against the top teams when you are 2-0 down after nine minutes you lose 6-0.
‘That’s the thing we’ve changed with the manager coming in, with the players we have here. Everyone has grown up and we are not going to lie down if we are 2-0 down.’
Tottenham were 2-0 down inside nine minutes in Turin on Tuesday but refused to panic or give up, and clawed their way back with Eriksen scoring the equaliser from a free-kick.
‘I think you can say it was a very bad start,’ he said. ‘It shocked us but we showed character to come back and we’re not going to lie down against anyone.
Tottenham impressed in Turin, coming from two goals down to rescue an important 2-2 draw
‘When you are 2-0 down after nine minutes there’s only one way and that’s trying to come back and luckily we did that.
‘The thought in everybody’s head was we have to turn it around, there’s no other option now, we’re 2-0 down and there’s only one way and that’s to create something, try to come back.
‘We have the character and the quality to do that.
‘We don’t care where we are or what time it is or which stadium we play in or which we team we play, we always try to dominate, to get the ball forward as quickly as possible and create something.
‘It shows a lot of character. All the types we have in our team are players who like to go forward, try to create something.
‘Winning or losing, we are going to try to pay the same way, try to connect in the same way and luckily we could turn it around.’
Gonzalo Higuain struck first for Juventus inside two minutes and added a second from a penalty after a foul by Ben Davies.
Harry Kane pulled a goal back before Spurs conceded another penalty in the final seconds of the first half. This time it was a foul by Serge Aurier but Higuain smashed it against the bar.
Eriksen added: ‘I think the most important time of the game was the missed penalty which gave us a lot of belief and confidence going into the second half that we could get something and luckily we did.’
With two away goals and the second leg at Wembley, Spurs will be favourites to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals.
‘I don’t know if you ever feel ready to win it,’ said Eriksen. ‘Most clubs are just used to it. Tottenham are not used to it but of course Tottenham are going to give everything we can to get as close as possible to get our hands on a trophy.
‘To get there is the first step. Luckily we have a good result and the next step is to go through.’
Eriksen, signed from Ajax for £9.5m in the summer of 2013, does not expect Pochettino to abandon the project he has started at Spurs despite growing interest from teams such as Real Madrid.
‘Of course, it’s his decision but I think he would like to be a part of what he’s building here,’ said Eriksen. ‘That’s what he showed when he signed a new long-term deal.
‘The players are happy with him, the clubs is very happy with him. Of course there will be interest from other clubs because he’s doing really well but hopefully he’ll stay.’
