Eriksen finally signed a new deal at Tottenham Hotspur this week after protracted negotiations.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has suggested to reporters, via the London Evening Standard, that Christian Eriksen will not have been able to help being distracted by his lengthy contract negotiations and admitted his relief that the saga is now over.
Eriksen had been publicly seeking a significantly improved deal at Spurs this summer to bring him in line with the top earners at the club.
It would be unfair to argue that the man who had not missed a Premier League game in two-and-a-half years did not deserve to be rewarded, but claims that he was seeking £150,000 per week – a £120,000 increase on his previous salary – soured things.
However, he and his representatives refuted that claim, and this week the Danish international agreed a new four-year deal worth £75,000 a week at White Hart Lane.
Eriksen has started all three of Spurs’ Premier league fixtures so far this season, but Pochettino suggested that he cannot help but have been affected by the uncertainty surrounding his future.
The Argentine manager said, via the Standard: “Perhaps subconsciously, the speculation can affect you when you are in the process of negotiating your future. It is not about money. It’s about your future.
“Sometimes it is difficult but we trust Christian, he is happy to stay and there is no doubt he will improve his performance in the future. If the club give him a better contract, it is because he deserves it.
“For players it is about performances. It is about being focused in training, improving fitness, showing quality, the relationship with your team-mates on the pitch. There is no doubt about Christian’s quality or his skills.
“This contract is important for him and for us. It will stop the rumours and he can be focused only on playing football. This is the last time we will talk about Eriksen’s contract and the rumours. It is good for him and the club. We are all happy.”
Pochettino is clearly relieved that the speculation surrounding one of his key stars is now over, and Eriksen can indeed focus on his football once again.
The playmaker scored the winner for his country in the 1-0 win over Armenia in a World Cup qualifier last weekend, and he is expected to continue his remarkable appearances record for Spurs when they take on Stoke City on Saturday.
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