Inter must ensure Christian Eriksen remains a key figure in their side in future years, according to a fellow Dane and former Serie A champion.
Eriksen has enjoyed a second wind at Inter under Antonio Conte and is reportedly ‘certain’ to remain a key player for the club in coming seasons.
Former Hellas Verona midfielder Preben Eljkaer, a legendary figure in Danish football who helped the Gialloblu win the Scudetto in 1985, admits he is bemused it took the 29-year-old so long to settle in with the Nerazzurri.
“More than anything I’m surprised he struggled at first,” Elkjaer told Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview for today’s print edition.
“It’s incredible Eriksen wasn’t understood at Inter for such a long time.
“We thought he was going to leave, but Inter are doing the right thing by building the team around him.”
Eriksen struggled to adapt to Conte’s playing style at first and Elkjaer argued it was no surprise given Inter’s way of playing.
“To tell the truth, I don’t really like the way Inter play,” he revealed.
“They’re too defensive and physical: the big teams must go on the attack.
“What can you ask of Eriksen in a team like that?
“He’s not someone who goes into battle, he needs to be relaxed like he is now.
“I know Eriksen, perhaps I’ve advised him, but it was important he managed to demonstrate his qualities in Italy, a country I’m fond of.
“Now I hope he can score more and that either his Inter or other Italian teams can become key players in the UEFA Champions League again.
“Europe can’t do without you.”
Eriksen has made 24 appearances in all competitions for Inter this season, scoring his only goal of the campaign in a 2-1 win over AC Milan in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.
