Soccer

Eric Dier ‘in right frame of mind’ to play for Tottenham – José Mourinho

Manager says player has ‘nothing to be afraid ashamed of’ following incident with fan

Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric Dier sought out the abusive supporter in the stands who had become embroiled in an argument with his youngest brother after his team’s defeat to Norwich City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

David Hytner
Fri Mar 6 2020 - 22:30

José Mourinho says that Eric Dier will start at Burnley on Saturday because the player has put his high-profile altercation with a Tottenham fan behind him and is in the right frame of mind.

The Spurs manager believes his player has “nothing to be afraid of, nothing to be ashamed of” following the incident on Wednesday in the emotional aftermath of the FA Cup penalty shootout loss at home to Norwich.

Dier clambered into the stands to seek out the abusive supporter who had become embroiled in an argument with his youngest brother. The Football Association has still to decide whether to bring a misconduct charge against Dier, who did not reach the fan so there was no physical confrontation.

Afraid

“What about Eric being in the right frame of mind to play tomorrow?” Mourinho said. “Of course. The only thing that matters is, first of all, that nothing really big happened. And, secondly, he played so, so well in the last two matches. Of course he is going to play.

READ MORE

“I did not consider giving him the weekend off. I would never do that. The player played so well. Nothing happened, nothing to be afraid of, nothing to be ashamed of. The football world is behind [him] and understands completely the circumstances. Nothing. Of course he’s right to play.”

– Guardian

LATEST STORIES