Gary Neville claims Tottenham man was ‘absolutely right’ to confront Mourinho

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Gary Neville has stated that Eric Dier was ‘absolutely right’ to confront Jose Mourinho and make it clear that he wants to play at centre-back, as he told Sky Sports Football (08/09/20 at 7:15 pm).

The former Premier League winner thinks that Dier isn’t good enough to play at the ‘very highest level’ as a midfield player and thinks he needs to stick to his centre-half role.

Dier is now playing as a centre-back at club level, and he also played on the left-hand side of a back three for England yesterday as they recorded a pretty dour goalless draw against Denmark in the UEFA Nations League.

Neville, who coached Dier and played him as a number 6 for England, shared his thoughts on the Tottenham man’s current situation.

“There are players who can play in midfield, but when it gets to the very highest level, the Champions League-winning type teams and international tournaments, for me, they are not good enough on the ball,” Neville told Sky Sports.

“So, I think they need to focus on a position or else you end up being in between and never really settling down and cementing a place somewhere. I think Eric Dier was absolutely right to say to his manager ‘I am a centre-back’.

“I don’t think he will get to the standards the modern-day midfield player needs to be at, to win tournaments, to be able to manipulate the ball, keep possession, control the game, and that’s [also] at Tottenham where they want to be at and also at England. So, I think he’s right to get back there.”

Since joining Tottenham, Dier has played at right-back, in a back three, at centre-half and in the middle of the park.

Whilst he has been a regular for his club, the same cannot be said for his country and the same cannot be said in regards to the position he plays.

But with Jose Mourinho previously being a big fan of the versatile player, it now seems he will, at the very least, play a regular role at the back in North London. And if his performances continue to rise then he’ll no doubt keep his England place.