THOMAS FRANK hopes Christian Eriksen will be allowed to let his feet do the talking from now on — after the midfielder’s emotional return put a smile on the face of football.
Eriksen was given a standing ovation from fans and players on both sides when he arrived as a 52nd-minute substitute on Saturday.
It completed a remarkable comeback, just 259 days after he suffered a cardiac arrest playing for Denmark against Finland at Euro 2020 in June.
Bees boss Frank said it felt like the club had been a circus sideshow in the days leading up to Eriksen’s return.
So now he wants the talk to be all about how his fellow Dane can help keep the Bees in the Premier League.
Frank said: “I completely understand the circumstances which make Christian coming back to football a really big event.
“But now he has played his first game, he really wants to just speak about football and less about what happened in June.
“He wants to be treated like a normal football player — even though we know he will never be a normal football player because of what happened to him.
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“For everyone involved in football, it was a big moment. It was fantastic to see the reception he received and it was a big moment for Christian and his family.
“Now he should only talk with his feet and speak about football instead of everything else.”
Eriksen’s team-mates were a man and two goals down by the time he entered the arena.
But nothing was going to overshadow his big day, played in front of his family and some of the doctors who nursed him back to fitness.
Eriksen said: “Leaving aside the result, I am one happy man to have been through what I have been through and be here — it is a wonderful feeling.
“Being on the pitch for the first time is very special.
“It has been very special since day one coming here. Everyone has been very helpful and taken care of me. It has been a pleasure.
“Nobody is naive but everyone is focused on doing our job and staying up and the confidence is there.
“I want to get back that feeling of playing football and help Brentford stay in the Premier League.”
It was a bit of surprise that, despite their lack of match fitness, Frank did not start with Eriksen and star striker Ivan Toney.
But any gameplan went out of the window when Josh Dasilva was sent off on 11 minutes and Joelinton and Joe Willock put the visitors out of reach before half-time.
The lift Eriksen gave his team was clearly visible and, with Norwich and Burnley next up, they will hope to end a run of seven defeats and one draw in their last eight matches.
Frank added: “I have had the privilege of seeing Christian train in the last three weeks and see his qualities. I am convinced that he will 100 per cent help us going forward.
“He is a top player who will add big value to the team.
“He is an easy player to manage. He is calm, down-to-earth, humble, and he trains and works hard because he wants to do the best for the team.
“Everyone wants to play with good players and players like him improve the team.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
