{"id":555724,"date":"2020-06-29T04:30:11","date_gmt":"2020-06-29T08:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=555724"},"modified":"2020-06-28T09:39:31","modified_gmt":"2020-06-28T13:39:31","slug":"eric-dier-a-perfect-fit-at-centre-back-for-tottenham-hotspur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/06\/29\/eric-dier-a-perfect-fit-at-centre-back-for-tottenham-hotspur\/","title":{"rendered":"Eric Dier a Perfect Fit at Centre-Back for Tottenham Hotspur"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jose Mourinho has preferred a centre-back pairing of Eric Dier<\/a> and Davinson Sanchez<\/a> in the Premier League restart. Both the player and the manager have spoken of how well the centre-back role fits Dier.<\/p>\n

Eric Dier a Perfect Fit at Centre-Back for Tottenham Hotspur<\/h2>\n

Origins<\/h3>\n

It is important to recall that Dier joined the club as a centre-back from Sporting Lisbon. From there he moved to right-back and then had a midfield lynchpin role. Since then, under Pochettino, Dier fell out of the team with crippling appendicitis<\/a> and illness issues.<\/p>\n

Mourinho has provided a new life for Dier. But, he will no longer play in central midfield. Instead, he will return to the centre of the Spurs defence.<\/p>\n

Dier Always Happy at Centre-Back<\/h3>\n

Dier recently took an interview with the club<\/a>, where he reaffirmed how he has always felt as though he could do well at centre-back.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not something that changed overnight for me, it\u2019s a feeling I\u2019ve had for a long time,\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was always my feeling, where I saw myself and where I thought I could excel the most.”<\/p>\n

‘A Great Position for Eric’<\/h3>\n

Jose Mourinho spoke after the West Ham United victory, admitting<\/a> that Dier “is playing really well and adapting very well to a position that he thinks, and personally I also think, is a great position for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

His initial return against Manchester United<\/a> was perhaps ruined by those closing moments of the match<\/a>. Paul Pogba<\/a> skinned Dier, beating him to the by-line before Dier tugged him down. It was a soft penalty. But, nevertheless, the Spurs centre-back gave him an excuse to flop in the box.<\/p>\n

Regardless, his performances in his two first matches back have indeed been impressive. He looks to have shaken off the weakness and lethargy of his illness. At centre-back, he competes well in the air and usually makes good decisions on and off the ball.<\/p>\n

It is perhaps no surprise that he makes a good centre-back with his proficiency across multiple positions; he reads the game well because he has played in midfield and as an attacking full-back.<\/p>\n

Dier will be hoping to consolidate his first-team spot at Spurs. Furthermore, the player will no doubt want to break back into the England set-up.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>