Christian Eriksen (Part 2)

Just five days later, Eriksen displayed his scoring prowess by netting his first Tottenham goal with a splendid shot in a 3–0 triumph over Tromsø IL in the Europa League. His knack for finding the net continued as he scored from a free kick against West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day and notched a crucial goal in Spurs' 2–1 away victory against Manchester United on January 1, 2014. One of his standout performances came on March 23 when, trailing Southampton by two goals, Eriksen scored twice to level the score and assisted Sigurðsson for the winning goal.
He further demonstrated his resilience on April 12 by scoring a stoppage-time equalizer to salvage a 3–3 draw against West Brom. By the end of the season, Eriksen had amassed 10 goals and 13 assists across all competitions, earning him the Danish Football Player of the Year award and Tottenham's Player of the Season accolade.


Ahead of the 2014–15 season, Mauricio Pochettino took over as Tottenham's manager. Eriksen's impact continued to grow under Pochettino's guidance, with crucial late winners against Aston Villa, Hull City, and Swansea City between November and December 2014. By the end of the calendar year, Eriksen led the charts with 12 goals from open play in England, earning him his second consecutive Danish Footballer of the Year award. He further showcased his prowess with a memorable performance in the League Cup semi-final against Sheffield United on January 28, 2015, scoring twice to send Tottenham into the final.


Despite a 2–0 defeat to Chelsea in the final, Eriksen concluded the 2014–15 campaign as a pivotal figure for Spurs, featuring in every Premier League game and finishing with 12 goals across all competitions. Amidst rumors linking him to Manchester United, Eriksen affirmed his commitment to Tottenham while on international duty, expressing his contentment with the club. Throughout the 2015–16 season, Eriksen continued to shine, earning his third consecutive Danish Footballer of the Year award. His contributions, including six goals and 13 assists, played a crucial role as Tottenham secured a third-place finish in the Premier League, securing qualification for the subsequent season's Champions League campaign.


Ahead of the subsequent season, Eriksen committed his long-term future to Tottenham by signing a new contract. He continued to excel for the club, contributing eight goals and providing 15 assists as Tottenham finished as runners-up to champions Chelsea in the league campaign. Eriksen's tally of assists was second only to Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, who set up 18 goals that season. He also shared the highest number of assists in the FA Cup and earned the Tottenham Player of the Season award for the second time, having previously won it in his debut season.
Eriksen made history on September 23, 2017, when he scored his 33rd goal in the Premier League, surpassing the previous record held by Nicklas Bendtner, becoming the highest-scoring Danish player in the league. His 200th appearance for Tottenham came on December 9, where he marked the occasion by scoring in a 5–1 league win over Stoke City.


In the following month, he notched his 50th goal for the club, scoring just 11 seconds into a 2–0 league victory over Manchester United, marking the third-fastest goal ever scored in the Premier League. Eriksen continued his impressive form, scoring twice in an FA Cup match against Swansea on March 17, 2018, helping Spurs advance to the semi-finals for the second consecutive season. He further showcased his abilities with a remarkable 25-yard goal against Chelsea on April 1, 2018, contributing to Tottenham's first win at Stamford Bridge in 28 years. Eriksen's contributions earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year for the first time.


Eriksen continued to demonstrate his impact, scoring crucial goals in both Champions League and Premier League matches. He scored against Inter Milan in the Champions League, securing a vital victory for Tottenham. In the Premier League, he netted his first goal of the season against Burnley and achieved a milestone by recording 10+ assists for the fourth successive season, joining David Beckham as the only player to achieve this feat. Eriksen celebrated his 200th Premier League appearance with an assist and a goal in a win over Crystal Palace. He also scored decisive goals against Brighton & Hove Albion and played in the UEFA Champions League Final against Liverpool, albeit in a losing effort as Tottenham were defeated 2–0.


With his contract at Tottenham nearing expiration, Eriksen made a significant move to Serie A club Inter Milan, signing a lucrative four-and-a-half-year deal worth €10 million per season. The very next day, he made his debut for the club, entering as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 home victory over Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals. Eriksen marked his presence with a goal on February 20, opening the scoring in a 2–0 away triumph against Ludogorets Razgrad in the Europa League. His first Serie A goal came on July 1, contributing to Inter's emphatic 6–0 win against Brescia. However, despite his efforts, Inter suffered a 3–2 defeat against Sevilla in the 2020 Europa League Final on August 21, making Eriksen the first player to lose two consecutive finals in the two major UEFA competitions, having previously lost the 2019 Champions League Final with Tottenham.


Eriksen was put on the transfer list for the following year, with his struggles at Inter attributed by teammate Romelu Lukaku to the language barrier. Nevertheless, Eriksen made a significant impact on January 26, 2021, during Inter's Coppa Italia quarter-final match against rivals Milan. Coming on as a substitute with the score level at 1–1, he netted a crucial free kick in the seventh minute of stoppage time, securing a dramatic victory for Inter and propelling them into the semi-finals. Despite transfer speculations, Inter manager Antonio Conte confirmed Eriksen's stay at the club. Eriksen further cemented his importance to Inter's title challenge by scoring a vital goal in their 2–0 away win over Crotone on May 1. The following day, Inter clinched the Serie A title, ending Juventus's nine-year reign as champions.


Eriksen faced a setback as he was prohibited from playing in Serie A due to the presence of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, which he received following a cardiac arrest suffered during a game at UEFA Euro 2020. Despite this, Eriksen embarked on individual training at his youth academy team OB in Odense, indicating his determination for a potential comeback to football. On December 17, 2021, Inter officially terminated their contract with Eriksen, marking the end of his tenure with the club.

References

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