Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen has shared his heartfelt take on the issue of player criticism, admitting it’s much worse today than it was a couple of years ago.
Having played for some of the world’s biggest football clubs and been a regular for the Denmark national team, Eriksen is no stranger to criticism.
However, he has admitted that it has become considerably worse and while he has a thick skin, it may have adverse effects on younger players.
Eriksen spoke to Tipsbladet on Tuesday and was asked whether criticism of individual players has become harsher.
He answered, “Yes, but it’s general, I think. I think the criticism everywhere in the football world has become more critical. It doesn’t just apply to the national team, I just think it’s a social media thing. I think unfortunately that’s the way it’s going.”
On whether it might give youngsters “a shock,” Eriksen remarked, “That may well be the case.”
“But that might be the good side, if it’s someone who’s standing there shouting. Because on social media, it’s all about writing and reading, and that’s more what I fear.”
“I can see a huge difference from when I came. If I could read a criticism, it was Morten Olsen who had been out and about and scolded me. It came from someone you kind of knew. Now it comes from anyone. And of course it’s something different that you have to get used to.”
The 33-year-old continued, “Many of those who are coming up now, they have of course also grown up being on social media their whole lives already. So I can see that there are many black holes to fall into if you really start looking a lot on the internet after any match.”
“If you play one bad game, you’re the worst in the world. If you play one good game, you’re the best in the world.”
“There’s nothing continuous, it’s just up and down one game at a time. It’s gotten harder and harder to say some violent things at once.”
Eriksen insisted that he has reached a point where he doesn’t read things that are written about him – an approach he feels young players should adopt.
Featured image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
