Summer signing Christian Eriksen already feels at home at Manchester United and can’t wait to get his first taste of the city derby this Sunday.
After a pair of postponements following the Queen’s death, Erik ten Hag’s side will make the short trip to neighbors Manchester City to play their first Premier League game since September 4.
It will be a first Manchester derby for the United manager and players like Eriksen, who has flourished since signing a deal until 2025 after his short-term contract at Brentford expired.
“I think, from my perspective, it’s only been a few months, but I feel like I’ve been here longer,” the Danish midfielder told United’s website.
“It has to do with the club, the people who work for the club, the team. In general, I was made very welcome from day one and felt at home straight away.
“Now it’s going to be a tough test. We feel good and in a good place, very fluid and I can’t wait to play.
“It’s a first derby for me personally, in Manchester, and I hope it will be a fun game to play and a fun game to watch.”
United are looking for a fifth straight Premier League win as they begin an eventful month, with Ten Hag’s side playing nine games as they juggle domestic and continental efforts heading into the break of the World Cup.
“It will be very busy and good for the fans,” Eriksen said. “We have a lot of games on TV and a lot in stadiums.
“Everything is welcome so it will be good. I hope we will get good results and have good games.
“Now no more breaks and I can be fully focused on United until the World Cup.
“It’s going to be fun… it’s going to be tough with a lot of games, recovery and then it’s going to be the next game the next day.
“So it’s going to be intense. As a footballer, I want to play as many matches as possible. I feel good, my body feels good and I can’t wait to be there.
Eriksen comes into October after a pair of impressive performances in the Nations League, with his standout goal against Croatia followed by a fine display in Denmark’s loss to France.
The 30-year-old is also encouraged by the fact that he won United’s Player of the Month award in September in recognition of his excellent start to life in the North West.
“I think September was nice,” Eriksen said. “It was a good race compared to, of course, the end of August, which was a bit difficult in terms of results.
“But I think personally and at club level the results in September were good, so September was a good month.
“I am grateful and thankful for the people who vote. I mean, I wasn’t sure when I got there that there was a player of the month every month.
“I think it’s the first club I’ve been to where you have that but, again, it means a connection with the fans and they feel part of it and I’m glad they voted for me. “
