Christian Eriksen has to start matches for Tottenham if he stays at the club this summer, according to Jose Mourinho.
The Dane started for just the second time in the Premier League this season on Sunday, and scored the opening goal in a 2-2 draw against Arsenal.
And Mourinho has been quick to emphasise how important the £75,000-a-week ace [Spotrac] is for Mauricio Pochettino’s men.
Speaking on Sky Sports (Main Event, Sunday September 1st, 16.15), he said: “It is very, very important, his state of mind. You have to have a happy player and not a sad player.
“At least until January it looks like he is going to stay and, of course, he is a fantastic player, a player that they need. But I think happiness is contagious and sadness is contagious, and you need happy players on the pitch.
“Hypothetically, if he gets over this frustration of not leaving to a club that he probably was dreaming of, he can be such an important player for them.”
Is Mourinho right about Eriksen?
Absolutely, yes.
The Dane is a special talent, and provided he stays at the club, regardless of what his long term future holds, he has to play.
If he remains a Tottenham player beyond the closing of the continental transfer window on Monday night, and that looks increasingly likely, then refusing to start him would be a case of Mauricio Pochettino cutting his nose of to spite his face.
There are few players who can read a game and create chances in the way that the 27-year-old does.
Even this season, despite having started just one match prior to Sunday’s north London derby, Eriksen had averaged 1.7 key passes and two shots on goal per game, as per Whoscored, as well as a pass completion rate of 81.3%.
Last year, he managed 12 assists in the league, as well as eight goals, and taking that kind of heartbeat out of side will always lead to serious problems.
He might not want to be there, but for the sake of Spurs keeping pace in the title race and putting together a decent European run, Eriksen has to get minutes.
Will Pochettino start him from now on?
Surely he has to.
Eriksen scored the opener in a breathless north London derby, but even beyond his direct contributions in front of goal, the Dane is a top, top player.
So far this term, he has only started the so-called big games, against Manchester City and then Arsenal.
If Pochettino sees him as such an important player that he feels he must be given the nod against the best side in the division, then it is pure nonsense that he wouldn’t stay against some of the more beatable sides out there.
There is really no excuse not to play him.