Eriksen: 'What an atmosphere!'

By Football Italia staff

New Inter midfielder Christian Eriksen was bowled over by his first Derby della Madonnina. “You don’t get that atmosphere in the Premier League.”

The Nerazzurri fought back from 2-0 down to beat Milan 4-2 last night at a packed San Siro, with an attendance of over 75,000.

“It was a great experience,” Eriksen told La Gazzetta dello Sport and visiting Danish media.

“The first half was sad, but winning like that with a comeback was very, very special. Now I can leave the stadium with a huge smile on my face.”

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax star was initially on the bench, but that just allowed him to relish the spectacle in the stands even more.

“The fans had prepared this huge choreography that took up the entire end of the stadium. You don’t get that atmosphere in the Premier League, partly because they’re not allowed to.

“Here, you really feel the fans pushing you on from the moment you arrive in the team bus. They are slapping their hands on the side of the vehicle, you feel their passion and understand how important this match is.”

When Eriksen did come on as a substitute, he almost scored his first goal in an Inter jersey, but his long-range free kick smacked against the crossbar.

“At the start, I had thought of doing one of the free kick routines we had studied, putting it into the crowd. But then I saw Milan were defending very deep and we wouldn’t have much of a chance.

“I looked at Marcelo Brozovic, who told me to go for it, so I did. I really hit it well, but not well enough, seeing as it didn’t go in. Considering the way the game ended, that crossbar is not a nightmare moment, but a satisfying one.

“If it had gone in, that would’ve been sheer ecstasy, the cherry on a super cake.”

Denmark manager Age Hareide was at San Siro for the big match and spoke with Eriksen about this new experience in Italy.

“I really feel that many fans are happy I am here. That fires me up, it motivates me, it pushes me in the right direction and helps me to settle in. So far, everything has gone really well.”

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