‘Better player’: BBC pundit makes claim about Tottenham ace changing positions again

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Mark Lawrenson has told Football Focus on BBC One that Eric Dier is a ‘better player’ at centre-back for Tottenham than he is playing in midfield.

During his Tottenham days, Dier has played at right-back, centre-back, in a back three and as a number six, mainly under the stewardship of Mauricio Pochettino.

But under Jose Mourinho, whilst Dier was used as a holding midfielder during the early months of his reign, he is now playing regularly at the heart of Tottenham’s defence.

Lawrenson is a man familiar with the centre-back role having been dominant in that position for Liverpool many decades ago and he thinks Dier is ‘more confident’ where he is playing now.

“If you play at the back, you are front on to everything, virtually all the time,” Lawrenson told Football Focus.

“Whereas when you play in midfield, you are side-on. You can use him in midfield more as a stop-gap [because] he’s not particularity great.

“He’s just a better player at the back. He just looks more confidence there.”

Prior to Mourinho’s arrival at Spurs, Dier had lost his place in the starting XI and his game time had reduced.

Not many were surprised that Mourinho threw him straight back into the starting fold given the well-documented rumours that he has always been a fan of the versatile Englishmen prior to his arrival in North London.

The faith which Mourinho has put back into Dier is paying off because he’s showing his leadership qualities and much-needed defensive bite that those at Spurs had previously lost.