Our Eriksen interview in full

Our no.14 is approaching the Manchester derby on Sunday appreciating how the growing connection and chemistry with his new team-mates is enabling him to perform at such a high standard in the midfield.

During an exclusive interview at Carrington this week, the popular Dane explained how he feels ready to focus on a big, and exhausting, month for the Reds... 

Congratulations on the Player of the Month award, how would you assess your September?
“Yeah, I think September has been nice. It’s been a good ride compared to, of course, the end of August, which was a bit tough result-wise. But I think, personally and club-wise, the results in September were good so September was a good month.”

The fans vote for the award so is it fulfilling to know they’ve taken to you so quickly?
“Definitely. I’m grateful and thankful for the people voting. I mean I wasn’t sure when I arrived about there being a Player of the Month every month. I think it’s the first club I’ve been at where you have that but, again, it means a connection with the fans and they feel part of it and I am pleased that they voted for me.”

The win over Arsenal was a memorable afternoon that will stick in the mind. How did you feel about your particular performance in that game?
“No, I think, as a team in general, we did very well. I think we managed the game pretty well. They played a very good team and are playing very well, Arsenal, but we punished them in the moments that we needed. We scored at the right time to gain control of the game so I think the result was more important than the game in general.”

You were very unselfish in that game [for Marcus Rashford's second strike] – are goals and assists, for you, pretty much the same thing or would you rather score than set up a goal?
“Very even. It always depends on the situation. In a situation like that, for me, it’s a no-brainer to pass it as I thought the chance was even bigger than if I was shooting from there, but I think it’s a bit of both.”

In Moldova, even the home fans seemed to appreciate how you performed – did you feel you played well again?
“I think, again, as a team, we are starting to get even more control in the games we’re playing in. Definitely the one in Moldova, we started well and scored and then the game got a bit easier on our behalf but I think, definitely, the feeling around the club, how you see it, how you read it and how the fans react, the feeling we have on the pitch is going well. The feeling is stronger every game we’re playing, I’m more and more used to my team-mates and the system and everything in general is getting more and more positive.”

Then you’ve carried on your good form while away with Denmark – where would you rank your strike against Croatia among your best goals?
“Goal-wise, very high. Importance-wise, not so much. I think the goal itself was a good one but I didn’t feel like I had the best game. Of course, to score was a confidence boost but it was a lovely goal.”

You’re too modest because you certainly played well in the France game – everyone was purring about your performance – and you’re playing them again at the World Cup…
“We play France very often! In the Nations League, also before in the World Cup, we played against France and now again! No, the game was good for us the other day. It was a nice send-off before the World Cup, to get a good feeling before the World Cup. We know, at the same time, France will be a completely different team when we play them next, with different players compared to what they had, but, for us, as a team, it was a perfect goodbye before the World Cup.”

Have you seen the stat about you creating the most chances in a single Nations League game?
“Yeah, I saw that. Eight but I can’t remember all eight. But no, again, it was how we played that game in general. The team did exceptionally and created a lot of chances, not only from me, but, in general, we did very well.”

Didier Deschamps said he always knew your quality but he was impressed with how durable you are playing all these games consistently at a high level – are you going to need that with these nine games scheduled for October?
“Yeah definitely. Now no more breaks and I can be fully focused on United until the World Cup. It's going to be nice but like you say, it’s going to be tough with a lot of games, recovery and then it's going to be the next game the next day after. So it’s going to be intense. As a football player, I want to play as many games as possible. I feel good, my body feels good and I’m looking forward to it.”

The Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand said he felt your best years on the pitch are still ahead of you, I guess you feel the same…
“Yeah, I feel good. I don’t think anyone really feels about how old they are, they just go with the momentum, how they play at the time or, on the pitch, how the game is evolving. I feel very well. I know I’m 30 but I don’t feel 30.”

Thirty isn’t old anyway! Do you feel with experience it almost becomes easier doing your job in the midfield, as you’re so used to it, particularly when you drop deep and get on the ball?
“Yeah sometimes but again it depends which position you’re playing in and how the team is playing. Obviously, the more you play in one position, the more you get used to it. I’ve always been a player who has played in a lot of different positions so it’s not unusual for me to be around on the pitch. But, no, I mean you get confidence from playing, and if it goes well, then you get more confidence definitely and I feel good.”

We talk a lot about positions but would you describe yourself as a playmaker rather than talk of a no.6 or no.8 as you like to get on the ball and make things happen?
“I don’t know, I’m quite surprised about all the positional things. All the games, even when I was at Spurs, I started as a winger but would often drop down to get the ball, collect it and help the build-up back then so that hasn’t really changed in that sense. Obviously, you start on the pitch in different positions, then it’s how the team play and how the team wants to move, how the manager wants the team to move and then you move from there. I still feel I’m the same player like before maybe I’m a little bit further from goal in some games but it’s not like I haven’t been there before.”

We spoke to Bruno recently and he said you two are developing an understanding in training and in the matches – do you feel you’re dovetailing well?
“Definitely and it doesn’t surprise me. I mean some people see us as very similar players but they probably only look at the stats and don’t see us, the player and the qualities. We have different qualities, a different style of play and, with Bruno and in general, I think I’m learning to get to know all my team-mates better. I also get to know how they run, how they want to have the ball, how they move around and how I move around the pitch for them. We’re starting to get that connection. With Bruno, it’s a good connection and it’s nice to have such a good footballer in front of me.”

City should provide the ultimate test considering how they’ve started this season and performed last term…
“Now it’s going to be a tough test. We’re feeling good and in a good place, really flowing and I’m looking forward to the game. It’s a first derby for me personally, in Manchester, and hopefully it’s going to be a fun game to play in and a fun game to watch.”

It's a busy spell at home and abroad in October, as we’ve said, so how much are you looking forward to it?
“It’ll be very busy and good for the fans. We have a lot of games on TV and a lot in the stadiums. It’s all welcome so it’ll be good. Hopefully, we get some good results and have some good games.”

It might sound a little arrogant to say it but there are certain players who always seem like a United player, and that’s the case with you, even going back to when we played Ajax in the Europa League a decade ago now…
“It is a long time ago, yeah.”

You see players in your mind as a United player. But you’ve fitted in so well do you feel like you’ve been a Manchester United player from the word go?
“No, I do. You say it really well. I think, from my own point of view, it’s only a few months but it feels like I’ve been here longer. It’s to do with the club, the people working for the club, the team. In general, I’ve been made to feel very welcome since day one and I feel at home straight away.”