‘He has grown a lot’: Antonio Conte wowed by £4m Tottenham player

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Tottenham Hotspur head coach Antonio Conte has raved about Eric Dier and has said that the defender has grown a lot mentality and physically, as quoted in Football.London.

Dier, who can also operate as a midfielder, has established himself as an important player in Conte’s team at Tottenham.

The 28-year-old, who cost Tottenham £4 million in transfer fees in August 2014 (BBC Sport), has also been called up to the latest England squad.

Antonio Conte on Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric Dier

Conte said about Dier being able to play in a back-four: “I think we are talking about a player who has a lot of versatility. He is a player that can play in the centre when you defend with three at the back.

“He can play as a central defender with four at the back, but at the same time he can play as a pivot, as a No4. You can see during the game also especially when we are going to build up and we use him and he becomes a midfield.

“We are talking about a really good player that, in my opinion, he has grown a lot physically, mentally in his mind, and you can see a player that now he knows his capacity.

“Now he is an important player, but as you know very well football changes the situation quickly, and he has to continue in this way, with humility, to be humble to continue to work very hard, to continue to have the right ambition, the right desire, to be an important player.

“It’s happening like this. For me, for sure, I will push him always, but not only him. I try to push every single player to give more and more and more.”

Important player for Spurs

In our view, Eric Dier is one of the best and most important players for Tottenham Hotspur now.

Dier has developed and matured a lot over the past few years and is at the top of his game at the moment.

The former Sporting player could be a part of the England squad for the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar.

After all, if Dier continues to impress for Spurs, then England head coach Gareth Southgate will simply not be able to ignore him.

For Tottenham to finish in the top four of the Premier League table this season and also to make an impact in the UEFA Champions League, Dier will have to be on top of his game throughout.