Eriksen collapsed during Germany's Euro 2020 match against Finland. Photo: Shutterstock/Friedemann Vogel
Christian Eriksen is more than aware of the historical implications of what lies ahead. On June 3, he and his Manchester United teammates will not just play in the FA Cup final with their neighbors Manchester City. They will also potentially be the last bulwark preventing them from living up to United's unique status as the only English club to win the treble. But the Dane seems to be more than calm about his meeting with fate from another city.
"First they need to win the other two, which are not in our hands" he says of City's attack on three fronts. "But I'm sure we'll do our best. So if we get our trophy, it doesn't matter what they get.
Eriksen is a phlegmatic character, calm in the growing tension of the season's climax. But then, when you've been through what he's been through, there's little that seems overly dramatic. Just under two years ago, his heart stopped while playing for Denmark against Finland in a Euro 2020 match in Copenhagen. Had it not been for the quick response of the Danish Football Association's medical team and the fact that the match was played in a stadium next door to a heart hospital, he would not have played at Wembley. He would be dead. And when you're facing death like him, there's no point in worrying too much about the upcoming football match.
"What I personally learned" he says of his experience, «Really just enjoy yourself while you're here and enjoy everything that's going on and play football if it's fun.» And if that's not fun, do something else.”
Eriksen performed at the Laureus Sports Awards in Paris, where he received the World Comeback of the Year award. And it is right. In order to play at the top of the game again after dying on the field, the very term «return» is redefined. Its been more resurrection.
The desperation of the players from Denmark was shared by millions of viewers around the world. Photo: Shutterstock/Liselotte Sabroe. man than go back and do something else," He says. "For me, the first goal was to return and be a full-fledged father and boyfriend. For me, this is the most important"
At the ceremony where he received his award, a montage was shown on a large screen behind him depicting the scope of his comeback. This included a film of his fainting and being carried away on a stretcher, the camera panning the shocked faces of his Danish teammates, the distraught crowd. As unsettling as it was to watch himself in such seemingly incurable circumstances, he was already used to videotape.
«In fact, I saw it almost a day after it happened, just to really see what happened and go through all the emotions and prepare for what's to come.» He says. "But it never gets easier. You look, and then you don’t think at all what it is. You just look at it, that's all.
Even after he recovered and had an cardioverter-defibrillator installed to control his heart rate, it initially seemed unlikely that he would ever play again. At the time of his collapse, Eriksen was playing his club football for Internazionale in Milan. After the death of Piermario Morosini during a Serie B match in 2012, the Italian league introduced the strictest rules to prevent those with heart problems from playing. And because of his pacemaker, Eriksen was banned from Italian football.
"I knew they had a lot of rules that could prevent me from playing in Italy" He says. "And when this contract ended, then finally I had an answer: I can go back and play football, but somewhere else. So I had to finish with Inter; it was actually the only option."
However, there were other places where he could play. Like England. And he signed for Brentford as a free agent in January 2022, immediately looking like he never had a problem. Calm, precise, efficient, he was great in their midfield. But much to the chagrin of Brentford fans, he joined Manchester United last summer. From afar, it did seem a little ugly to turn his back on the club that gave him a lifeline. However, he does not see it that way. Having received a second chance in life, he was not going to refuse such an opportunity.
Thomas Frank offered Eriksen a life raft when few others seemed to agree. Photo: Reuters/David Klein
"Yes, it was difficult" he talks about the decision to leave the West London club. “I had a very good time there and I will always be grateful to Brentford and Thomas Frank for giving me the opportunity to come back and be their player. But I also told Thomas from the very beginning that if something more exciting comes up, that I can see myself at the highest level, I will go for it. And for me, fortunately, United came, and it was true."
That means he will be at Wembley in June in the FA Cup final. And this after he was forced to miss the Carabao Cup in February due to an ankle injury. He really is a second chance man.
"Yes" He says. "I was lucky"
Christian Eriksen performed at the Laureus World Sports Awards. Find out more at www.laureus.com
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