Ruben Amorim apologises to Christian Eriksen for ‘misunderstanding’ after comments about Man Utd star’s heart situation
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN will return for Manchester United with Ruben Amorim admitting he caused a false heart scare.
The Danish midfielder suffered a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 but subsequently made an amazing recovery after having an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) fitted.
But after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Tottenham boss Amorim declared that Eriksen, who missed the game through illness, “of course has the heart situation and we have to be really careful with that.
“It’s nothing about the heart! I’m just saying the heart rate has to be controlled because he has a fever.”
Amorim’s words created a surge of get-well messages and Eriksen then went on social media to clear matters up
The 33-year-old, fit again for Saturday’s clash with Everton along with Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte declared: “I just wanted to thank everyone for the get well messages I’ve been receiving after missing the Spurs game.
“I picked up a virus like many people do at this time of year. Nothing serious and soon ready to get back to training.”
An apologetic Amorim stressed: “With Chris it was a misunderstanding, really clear on that.
“He’s healthy and he’s ready to play for many years at a high level. My limitations are explaining the injuries.”
United face Everton below their rivals for the first time since David Moyes, now back at Goodison, took charge of his last game as Old Trafford boss – following an April 2014 2-0 loss to the Toffees.
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Amorim takes his side to Merseyside having lost eight of his last 12 league games but is up-beat, saying he is now hearing a different more confident noise from his players.
They have struggled to adapt to his 3-4-3 tactical philosophy but he says: “What I see in training is they are improving and creating relationships.
“Even the sounds of the training is different. We have to use that in the game and see it in the game and take that step.
“We are bonding and we understand the we want to play, but in the game we struggle a lot.
“The sound is when you making an exercise you feel the sound, people are talking and asking for the ball and give directions.
“If you spend your life as a football player even the sound of the training is important.
“So training, good, but I know we have issues when we play. We have to take how we train now into the games.”
Man Utd ratings v Spurs
MANCHESTER UNITED slipped to a 12th defeat in the Premier League with Rasmus Hojlund coming under fire again.
Here’s how SunSport’s Katherine Walsh rated the Manchester United players against an underachieving Spurs side – who are now three places above them in 12th – in North London.
Andre Onana – 3
United can’t do anything with him between the sticks. Can’t be trusted to collect anything.
His opposite number Vicario showed him a thing or two after returning for the first time since Spurs thrashed Man City in November.
At fault for the first goal when he palmed out a relatively weak bouncing shot into Maddison’s path in the 13th minute.
Noussair Mazraoui – 5
An OK performance. Clever link-up play with Zirkzee but couldn’t get hold of Spence down the left-hand side.
Pulled out an excellent cross for the Dutchman’s headed chance late-on.
Matthijs de Ligt – 6
His clearance stopped an obvious 2-0 before the half-an-hour mark.
Harry Maguire – 5
A mixed bag. Long ball over the top for Hojlund’s chance in opening 10 minutes and went on a few attacking runs himself in the first half.
Did well to stop Dejan Kulusevski from having a go at the edge of the box. But bizarrely stopped in his tracks when a cross came flying into Son later on.
Diogo Dalot – 6
A difficult afternoon for the Portugal international as Son and Djed Spence left him for dead a few times.
Hesitated when asked to shoot from five yards to make it 1-0 but helped Onana out with some clearances too.
Patrick Dorgu – 4
A Prem debut to forget. He was almost invisible from the left-hand side. And lacked quality when asked to get involved more in the second half.
Was stupidly caught offside with Bruno Fernandes offloading a stunning cross pitch pass and booked late-on.
Casemiro – 5
Looked every bit a player that hasn’t played Premier League football for two months. Unsurprisingly booked for a late one on Son.
Bizarrely dropped to the turf asking for a free-kick when nobody touched him. Was forced to play 89 minutes with eight teenagers on the bench. A difficult afternoon, indeed.
Bruno Fernandes – 5
Interceptions and breaking up play is not a part of the captain’s game. An uncharacteristically poor cross left United open on the counter.
Did get back to stop Son from having a shot at Onana on the hour mark and started ticking in attack in the final 20 minutes.
Alejandro Garnacho – 4
Looked shaky and cut a frustrated figure after blazing over an absolute SITTER from 10 yards to level the scores.
A bit of a shocker and looked a completely different player to the one who got United into the fifth-round of the FA Cup last week.
Woke up a bit in the second half as Vicario kept him at bay with several superb stops. But the 20-year-old is clearly better off the bench.
Joshua Zirkzee – 6
The best of a desperately poor front three. There’s a street player in there and he’s great with his touches at times.
But curled wide from 23 yards, stuck a header wide in the 70th minute and kicked an air shot in the final five minutes.
Rasmus Hojlund – 3
Is Hojlund the worst No 9 in United’s recent history?
The young Dane, who was unlucky to have a chance saved by Vicario, was second best in every loose ball and kept losing possession.
He was even caught offside after a pass from an Onana goal-kick in the first half – how often do you see that happen?