Christian Eriksen recently disclosed an incident where he unintentionally irked Cristiano Ronaldo during a debate about free-kick-taking responsibilities at Manchester United.
Eriksen, known for his dead-ball expertise, found himself in competition with several talented teammates, including the five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo.
The Danish playmaker incurred Ronaldo’s displeasure during one of his early appearances for United when the team was awarded a set-piece and he nudged Ronaldo aside.
Speaking during a free-kick masterclass on MUTV, Eriksen stated:
“Even now at the club, we have multiple takers who, if he’s had a good day, he’s going to have it.” He also revealed that he had taken one free-kick instead of Ronaldo, which didn’t sit well with the Portuguese star. However, Eriksen emphasized that the decision of who takes the set-piece depends on the players’ positions on the pitch and their confidence levels, adopting a collaborative approach of “you had the last one, I’ll have the next one.”
Eriksen is part of Manchester United’s free-kick club, along with Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.
He has formed a productive midfield partnership with Fernandes and Casemiro. Eriksen praised the trio, saying:
“I think from day one we connected really quickly. We have three different players but three guys who are not scared of taking the ball and trying to create something.”
Unfortunately, an untimely injury prevented Eriksen from participating in the 2023 Carabao Cup final, where Manchester United ended their six-year wait for major silverware.
However, he hopes to feature in the upcoming FA Cup final against Manchester City on June 3, having already played a crucial role in helping the Red Devils secure a top-four finish in the Premier League.