Manchester United man explains why criticism is worse now than earlier in career – May be shock for younger players
03/19/2025 09:16 AM
Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen has admitted he thinks criticism is worse now than ever before, because anybody can access footballers to dish it out.
Tipsbladet cover comments from the Danish midfielder today as he entered the debate about criticism this week.
Several Danish players have been discussing the issue this week ahead of the international break, with Manchester United teammate Rasmus Højlund admitting he avoids social media because of it and Jesper Lindstrøm having admitted it affected him earlier in his career.
The subject was then put to Eriksen, who is very much one of the more experienced players for his country and Manchester United at this point.
And he admitted he thinks criticism of players has become harsher, particularly in Denmark in recent years.
"Yes, but it’s general, I think," he said.
"I think the criticism everywhere in the football world has become more critical. It doesn’t just apply to the national team; I just think it’s a social media thing. I think unfortunately that’s the way it’s going.”
The issue is particularly prevalent for younger players, who all tend to have social media profiles that they will actively use and engage with.
That's given fans access to them on an unprecedented level and, unfortunately means that criticism, anger and even hate is easily directable.
Eriksen comes from a time when social media was not so prevalent, and indeed nowhere near as powerful, and the Manchester United man admits it's probably a shock for younger players when that criticism comes their way because of it.
"But that might be the good side, if it’s someone who’s standing there shouting," he added in regard to vocal pundits.
"Because on social media, it’s all about writing and reading, and that’s more what I fear. I can see a huge difference from when I came.
"If I could read a criticism, it was Morten Olsen who had been out and about and scolded me. It came from someone you kind of knew. Now it comes from anyone. And of course, it’s something different that you have to get used to.
"Many of those who are coming up now, they have of course also grown up being on social media their whole lives already. So, I can see that there are many black holes to fall into if you really start looking a lot on the internet after any match."
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