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Conte says Tottenham have a player who’s now found the perfect role
Antonio Conte has backed Eric Dier to become of the world’s best players in his position, insisting that the Tottenham Hotspur stalwart is perfect for the middle of the back three – .
Dier has started all five of the Premier League games Spurs have contested since Conte was appointed. In fact, he has not missed a single fixture in the top flight this term.
The 27-year-old had gone into this season having received a lot of criticism. Like Dele Alli and Harry Winks, he appeared to be one player struggling to recapture the form he showed at the height of Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure.
He had actually started the season brightly under Nuno Espírito Santo. But Dier seems to have found another level since Conte’s arrival.
However, he seemingly has some way to go. In fact, Conte believes that he has the ability to get right to the top once again.
“I think that Eric Dier can become one of the best players in the world in that position,” he said, . “I think that position is perfect for him. For sure he needs to work, he needs to continue to improve, to understand very well the movement with the defensive line.
“He has to lead the defensive line because in that position you have to speak a lot because you have to stay in the middle, at the back where you can see everything.”
Antonio Conte to be the one to help Eric Dier finally realise full potential at Tottenham?
Dier appeared to be a player who suffered because of his versatility. While he was brilliant in his first few years at Tottenham, it did seem that his ability to play at centre-back or central midfielder eventually hurt him.
He did not cement a spot in one role for some time. And for some, he made the wrong choice by opting to become a centre-back.
However, being that middle player in a back three perhaps allows Dier to combine his strengths in the two roles.
Tottenham fans know how good Dier has been in the past. So there will be plenty of excitement about Conte’s latest comments.