Juan Foyth’s first-ever goal for Tottenham gave his side a deserved 1-0 at Selhurst Park against a listless Crystal Palace
Mauricio Pochettino has said he hopes Christian Eriksen will sign a new contract as the midfielder heads into the last 18 months of his Tottenham deal.
Harry Kane and Dele Alli have already signed long-term extensions at Spurs, and Pochettino wants Eriksen, who scored 10 goals and assisted 10 more in the Premier League last season to follow suit.
The midfielder has been linked with moves to Real Madrid and Barcelona
“He knows and we know what we’re doing and of course we’re working hard,” he said. “The club’s working to try to take the best decisions. Christian is going to take I think the decision that is best for him.
“We’re not worried — in football I’m never worried — but I prefer that he’s going to sign the new contract and spend a long time with Tottenham. It will be fantastic.
“Christian is a very good player. When he was signed he was a prospect, a very good player at Ajax but still young, and Tottenham provided a very good platform to develop his quality.
“Eriksen and Tottenham, and Tottenham and Eriksen, was a very good mix — good for Tottenham, good for Christian Eriksen. That’s why I hope Christian continues to develop his career here with Tottenham.”
Eriksen, who was sidelined for a month with an abdominal problem earlier this season, was used sparingly at Spurs before the international break, and Pochettino was not pleased he that the midfielder started both of Denmark’s UEFA Nations League matches.
“I think to look after him before going to the national team was the best decision because he started in the last 10 days in two games,” Pochettino said. “To play 90 minutes against Crystal Palace and then start in the last two games with the national team should be too much for him.”
Pochettino will be without three defenders for Saturday’s clash against Chelsea, with Davinson Sanchez, Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose all out of action, along with midfielder Mousa Dembele.
However, Jan Vertonghen is back in contention, having missed the last nine matches with a hamstring problem.
“There’s still one day more [of training] but it’s very good news that he’s involved again with the group,” Pochettino said. “In the last two weeks he was training very well and now we need to wait until tomorrow and decide if we believe he can be involved for Saturday.”
Christian Eriksen is one of several Tottenham players who have had injury problems this season.
Spurs’ Argentina international trio Erik Lamela, Juan Foyth and Paulo Gazzaniga will be assessed after landing back in London at 6 a.m. GMT on Thursday morning.
Tottenham trail an undefeated Chelsea side by one point ahead of Saturday’s match, but Pochettino has said Maurizio Sarri has an advantage because his side are not in the Champions League.
“They are doing very well with Sarri this season, still unbeaten,” Pochettino said. “It’s true in that first season with [Antonio] Conte they were [not involved in Europe], and the next season Chelsea struggled a little when they were in the Champions League.
“This season they are competing in the Europa League again and it’s completely different for Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool or us because we’re competing in the Champions League. It’s a completely different competition.”
Spurs will be hosting Chelsea at Wembley as they continue to wait for their new stadium to be completed.
The current plan is to move into the new ground in January, but Pochettino has said that there could be a further delay.
“Last afternoon we were there, checking the facilities, the changing rooms and everything,” he said. “We are so excited, we cannot wait to move there.
“To wait maybe one or two months more, we need to have patience. We are so disappointed because we expect to play in 2018 and it should be ready for play before the end of the year.
“But that is not going to be possible and we need to wish and hope that in January or February we can move there and it will be a fantastic moment for everyone, the supporters, the players. It will be a massive boost.”
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