full at the GSP Stadium even though we ran out 3-0 winners
thanks to Harry Kane’s hat-trick. That felt like a huge win at
the time and has proved so as we’ve gone on to win Group
H with a game to spare.
“It’s another step for us as players, for the team and the
club,” added Eric, who has already racked up 25 European
matches for us. “We’ve learned a lot from the Champions
League campaign of last season, we’ve had the right attitude
towards that and taken it into this season.
“We can be proud of the way we’ve handled the ChampionsLeague as a whole this time in every single performance.
It’s important now that we don’t just accept that this is
good enough. We want to go on and win the last game in
the group, go into the knockout stages and give our best
then as well.”
That brings us to Eric’s evaluation of his own form. Still
only 23 (he turns 24 next month), Eric is one of the many
leaders in the squad and his consistent performances both
in a holding midfield role and as part of a three-man defence
in Toby Alderweireld’s absence all contributed to the hugeINTERVIEW | ERIC DIER“WE CAN BE PROUD OF THE WAY WE'VE HANDLED
THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AS WHOLE THIS TIME
IN EVERY SINGLE PERFORMANCE”
28
TOTTENHAMHOTSPUR.COM
CAREER SO FAR
EARLY DAYS
Born in Cheltenham in
January, 1994, Eric moved to
Lisbon in Portugal with his
family at the age of seven and
his football education started
at Sporting’s youth academy.SPORTING PROWESS
Turned professional with the
Lisbon club in April, 2010, but
returned to England for a loan
spell with Everton between
January-June, 2011, featuring for
their Under-18s.BREAKING THROUGH
Back with Sporting, he featured for their
‘B’ side in August, 2012, stepping up for
his professional debut against SC Braga
in the Portuguese top flight on November
11 that year. His first goal came 15 days
later, against Moreirense.