Christian Eriksen epitomised everything Tottenham believe they stand for, they still pine for his elusive talents and will be wishing their former maestro well in his battle back to full health
It isn’t the wonderful goals that guarantee Christian Eriksen a place in the hearts of all Tottenham supporters, although there were plenty of wonderful goals.
One at Chelsea springs to mind, a ferocious strike from the best part of 30 yards. It dipped and swerved and levelled the scores before Spurs went on to win 3-1 at Stamford Bridge when they were the best team in London.
Nor is it the assists although there is no shortage of those either, beautifully weighted passes, often picking out the run of Dele Alli when the team was a rising force under Mauricio Pochettino.
Christian Eriksen, with his technique, epitomised everything Tottenham feel they stand for
There is a strong case for pin-pointing Eriksen’s exit for Inter Milan as a key element in the demise of Alli’s form because without the Dane’s vision and exquisite passing range from midfield, his goal threat was diminished.
It may also be possible to trace the beginning of the end of the Pochettino era back to very the moment when he lost Eriksen.
Not when he left for Inter in January 2020, by which time Jose Mourinho was in charge, but when his eye began to wander in search of a fresh challenge, somewhere away from North London, in Spain or Italy.
Eriksen is capable of delighting supporters with his superb imagination when in possession
Pochettino travelled to Copenhagen for a meal when he tried to convince the midfielder to sign a new contract and pledge his future to the rebuilding programme but Eriksen was sure of his own mind.
He thought it was time to go and he went to Inter, where it was difficult for him at first but where his quality shone through and he ended the season an Italian champion under the guidance of Antonio Conte.
Eriksen, arguably more than any other player in this recent era of progress, has epitomised precisely what Tottenham believe they stand for. When Daniel Levy issues statements about the Spurs DNA, he is thinking of players who can create and conjure.
Tottenham will certainly wish Eriksen well after he collapsed while playing for Denmark
Those who can inspire and delight with their imagination on the ball. Those who play the pass no-one saw, take on the shot no-one thought possible and list the fans from their expensive seats.
Eriksen, the unassuming Danish prince, fit the package perfectly.
He arrived from Ajax in the summer of 2013 when the £83million from the sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid was being punted on eight new players and he proved to be the best of the lot.
They still pine for his elusive talents at Tottenham and they will be wishing him well in his fight back to full health.