Christian Eriksen sets Nations League record as Man Utd ace stars in France win

Christian Eriksen is looking more and more like the bargain of the season.

Manchester United signed the 30-year-old midfielder on a free transfer after his contract with Brentford expired, and he's going from strength to strength for club and country. After scoring a screamer of a consolation goal in Denmark 's 2-1 defeat to Croatia last Thursday, Eriksen returned to Copenhagen on Sunday to help the Danes beat France 2-0 in their final Nations League group game.

While the silky playmaker wasn't directly involved in setting up either of Kasper Dolberg and Andreas Skov Olsen's first-half strikes, Eriksen played a key role in the build-up and was a constant threat to a youthful French side. So much so, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan star set a new record for the 2022-23 Nations League campaign.

Eriksen created a whopping eight chances against the reigning world champions, a tally which no player from the other 54 nations has managed this year. To boot, the ex- Ajax prodigy completed 100 per cent of his dribbles, won four ground duels and managed nine successful crosses.

A mere 15 months on from suffering a cardiac arrest during a European Championship match, Eriksen has proved that class truly is permanent following a string of sublime performances this season. United boss Erik ten Hag has handed him a start in all eight of the Red Devils' outings this term and Eriksen deservedly picked up the club's Player of the Month award for September thanks to his dazzling displays.

Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmiechel became the latest to heap praise on his compatriot after the victory over France, telling Tipsbladet : "What can be said about Christian that hasn't already been said? He is a world-class player and teammate.

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"I will always venture the claim that if you take Eriksen out of the team - regardless of the level - you will be able to feel it. He is the man who makes everything tick. He sees some things that not many others see. Just a top footballer."

Asked whether Eriksen is now an even better player following his heart scare last summer, which kept him out of action for seven months until February this year, Schmeichel admitted: "I don't know. I always think he's been really good. I just think that you notice him more now, and you are more grateful for him now."

The Danish star now has a full week to prepare for Sunday's Manchester Derby away to bitter rivals Man City, where United will be hoping to make it five successive Premier League wins.

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