‘Leave him alone!’: Daley Blind criticises pundits for saying Christian Eriksen won’t play again following his cardiac arrest because he returned after being fitted with a defibrillator due to heart inflammation
Daley Blind has slammed pundits for speculating over Christian Eriksen’s future in football following his cardiac arrest.
The Denmark international collapsed during his side’s Euro 2020 defeat to Finland and had to be resuscitated.
Eriksen, 29, was discharged from hospital on Friday after being fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).
Daley Blind has hit out at pundits for suggesting Christian Eriksen won’t be able to play again
Eriksen has been fitted with an implantable defibrillator like Blind following his collapse
Ajax star Blind also had an ICD after suffering from on-field heart problems in the past.
The 31-year-old like Eriksen had people suggesting that his football career was over, but insists his story shows that it doesn’t mean the end for Eriksen’s playing days.
As reported by the Metro, he said: ‘When this happened to me, the whole world was telling me I was finished as a player, that I would not be able to play again.
‘Look where I am today. This is why I say to everyone, “Leave Christian alone!”
‘I felt I was ready and I felt comfortable to return once I got the green light from the doctors in the hospital and the medical staff at Ajax.
‘There was no reason why I could not play at the top level again. The most important thing is that you have to feel free in your head.
‘I had no fear. I was just incredibly happy that I was allowed to be part of the squad again and to be back in the team.
‘Once the doctors tell you that you are OK to play again, you only feel the tension and excitement of playing, not the tension of fear.’
In December 2019, Blind was diagnosed with heart muscle inflammation after suffering from dizziness in a Champions League tie against Valencia.
Blind considered not playing for the Netherlands in the aftermath of Eriksen’s collapse
Then in August 2020, he required medical attention after collapsing on the ground with nobody near him.
Blind was in tears after he was substituted in Netherlands’ 2-0 victory over Austria, days after Eriksen’s collapse.
The former Manchester United player added: ‘Those images were so recognisable to me. It was so real again, this is why it was so emotional for me.
‘I had to climb over a big, mental hurdle before I could manage to play the following day for Holland in our first group game.
‘All the emotions came out. I am proud of myself that I managed to play for so long in that game. I did it, but it was hard.’
Blind (left) was teammates with Eriksen at Ajax where they won the Eredivisie title here in 2012