It was only a friendly match against Southend, a National League club (5th English level) and yet the meeting had a taste of rebirth for Christian Eriksen. Victim of a heart attack in the middle of a match during Euro 2020, the midfielder played Monday, February 14 his first match since his accident. A date also symbolic, since the player celebrated his 30th birthday on the same day.
“Christian Eriksen played his first minutes in a Brentford shirt this afternoon, playing for an hour in a 3-2 win behind closed doors against Southend United”explained his London club.“The Danish international was very active in midfield and provided an assist for Josh Dasilva’s first goal, scoring a hat-trick”specifies the press release from the club which points to 14th place in the Premier League standings.
Eriksen, who joined Brentford for the end of the season on the last day of the winter transfer window, also missed two early chances.
The player, victim of a heart attack during the match of the 1st round of the Euro on June 12, Denmark-Finland, had collapsed on the ground. He had to be resuscitated on the lawn before being evacuated by ambulance.
He has since lived with a defibrillator, which forced him to terminate his contract with Inter Milan, his former club, this type of device being considered incompatible with the practice of professional football in Italy, which is not the case in England.
| BIRTHDAY
Wishing @ChrisEriksen8 many happy returns! 3️⃣0️⃣
Sending best wishes from the whole Inter family. We’ll always be behind you! ⚫ pic.twitter.com/ATBjt9S7Db
— Inter (@Inter_en) February 14, 2022
On February 3, Bees coach Thomas Frank, also Danish, explained that Eriksen would be able to play in the “weeks” to come, gradually. “He hasn’t trained with a team for seven months and I think it’s important that he doesn’t have a minor injury that is holding him back.”he added, adding that it would probably take a few minutes during a friendly match before he could perhaps join the professional group in the league.
“I’m not really scared, I can’t feel my defibrillator, so if it gets hit I know it’s strong enough,” had for his part explained the player to the BBC last Thursday. “I’m not afraid of the challenges ahead and possible intimidation in the game.”
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/gZYNRA4REz
— Christian Eriksen (@ChrisEriksen8) February 7, 2022
Brentford’s next game will be a short trip to Arsenal on Saturday as part of Premier League Matchday 26.