When Jose Mourinho first rocked up at Tottenham to be the new head coach, many immediately assumed a clear winner would be Eric Dier. A tough-tackling and intelligent ball-winner, Dier had gone through the peaks and troughs associated with most Spurs players under Mauricio Pochettino. Just as he had been a shining light of their peak form under the Argentine, he also played some of his worst football towards the end of his time in London. Now, under a fellow Portuguese speaker who had wanted him at Manchester United, the Spurs midfielder was seen as the perfect Mourinho player.
Why, then, is the defender in what his manager as described as a ‘crisis of confidence’ at the moment?
It’s hard to put a single reason on the problems, but it is abundantly clear that Dier has hit a poor patch of form again. Ever since Mourinho arrived, he has made a conscious effort to include Dier in the team and give him the opportunity to play. After a slow start to life under the Portuguese, the Sporting CP academy prospect soon turned his game around and found form. Now, though, the trough is well and truly back in place – Dier is close to his pre-Mourinho levels once again.
Words of confidence come in the shape of his manager determining that Dier will come out the other side a strong player. Described as a ‘mainstay’ by those close to the club, it is expected that it won’t be long until Dier is given another shot in the first team. Having missed out in the win against West Bromwich Albion, though, it might take a drop in form of a teammate before he comes back into the side.
What has caused Dier to lose form so drastically?
In fairness to the England man, it isn’t just his own form that has dropped off. Prior to a much-needed win against the Baggies, Spurs as a whole have fallen off the pace drastically. Ever since Roberto Firmino powered a late winner in against the London giants, Spurs have slowly but surely dropped down the pecking order. Now, UEFA Champions League qualification is now in doubt – something that would also likely put the future of key players back on the discussion table.
With new contracts being discussed with key talent like Son Heung-Min, though, UCL qualification would be seen as essential for the long-term development of the club. Add in a growing debt pile, too, and it is clear that Spurs need to think fast – and smart – about what the next steps are going to be.
Dier is a quality player, that would be hard to deny. However, the biggest problem for Spurs is that with a cadre of expensive defenders and midfielders, always finding space for a player with his offensive limits can be challenging. And given Spurs have found goals so hard to come by in recent times, can Mourinho keep making space for a player who is destructive over creative?
If Spurs want to get back on track, it might be a case of leaving out a player that the manager would rather start simply to find a more suitable offensive balance.
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