Tottenham news: Eric Dier sends message to Jose Mourinho over his favoured position | Football | Sport
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The England star was brought back into the centre of the Tottenham defence on Sunday and had a rocky time as Wolves won 3-2 to surge ahead in the race for Champions League places. And Dier was at fault for Wolves first goal, when he completely miskicked Ruben Vinagre’s cross, allowing Matt Doherty to score. Twice Wolves came back from a goal down as Diogo Jota gave the Spurs defence the runaround – and late in the game Raul Jimenez grabbed his 22nd goal of the campaign to take his side not sixth place in the table.
After the game, Spurs manager Jose Mourinho defended his decision to bring Dier into his defence in place of Toby Alderweireld – and insisted that the England man had played well.
Dier has won most of his 40 England caps as a defensive midfielder, but was originally signed as a right-back by Tottenham when they captured him from Sporting Lisbon for £4 million in 2014.
He was converted to a midfielder by previous manager Mauricio Pochettino – but Dier, 26, has made no secret of the fact that he prefers playing at the back.
He said: “I’m at a stage in my career now where I want to be playing in my best position.
“It’s obviously very nice of the manager speaking that way about me.
“Centre-back is the position I see myself playing. That’s where I see my future. I was happy to be able to play. But obviously the most important thing is winning games – and we haven’t done that.
“I have always been very politically correct on the subject for many different reasons, but it’s been something that isn’t new for me.
“The old manager knew where I stood for a long time about position, and centre-back is where I see my future and where I can be the best I can be.
“With Pochettino, I started to play there this season in the two games before he left, and I’m happy I got the chance to play there under Mourinho.”
Mourinho, whose side are now two points off fifth place, which could be the cut off point for Champions League qualification this year, said: “Eric played very well.
“The thinking was simple. Davinson Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga are the two fastest central defenders we have.
“Eric is the one who by nature is a midfield player so playing between those centre-backs is the one who is normally more comfortable with reading the game and passing.
“So it was a mixture of giving security but at the same time keeping fast people at the back. Eric was very very good.
“Sometimes you concede goals and you blame goalkeepers and defenders. Other times you concede goals and it is a one-off situation.”
Tottenham, who now have to pick themselves up to face Norwich on Wednesday in the FA Cup fifth round, now though have more injury problems, with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris ruled out with a groin problem, and midfielder Erik Lamela doubtful with a similar injury.
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