Christian Eriksen: 'After 88 minutes just give me the ball'

Christian Eriksen was Tottenham's hero as they survived a late scare to secure a 2-2 draw at Sheffield United and book a place in the League Cup final against Chelsea.

The Dane looked to have put the Premier League side on cruise control with a sensational free kick opener that saw the Londoners go 2-0 up on aggregate at Bramall Lane.

However, the Blades' teenage forward, Che Adams came off the bench to score two goals in 140 seconds to turn the game on its head late on and leave the visitors staring at the prospect of extra time.

But heartbreak was just around the corner for the League One outfit as Eriksen surged free two minutes from the end to steer a low shot into the corner and send Spurs to Wembley courtesy of a narrow 3-2 success on aggregate.

In a bullish comment to the BBC after winning the match for Tottenham, Eriksen told the cameras: "The second goal came at a crucial time, but after 88 minutes just give me the ball."

"I didn't think it was slipping away but I was thinking about extra time," he added. "It means a lot to get to Wembley, we are all really excited. The first goal, a free-kick, was one of the better ones I have scored, it was a bit surprising to hit that so high in the net. I don't practice free-kicks that often. Sheffield United were impressive, they played like a Premier League team. They should play higher."

Isn't it nice to see a player with a bit of character and, dare we say it, arrogance. Eriksen is clearly full of confidence at the moment and why not, having scored 10 goals in all competitions this season, with all but one of them vital to securing results for his team. His two-goal showing in the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg was another great display of his ability to decide a match.

'After 88 minutes, just give me the ball' - it is a phrase spoken by a player operating at the peak of his powers, who knows he can deliver for his team when they most need it. And if his free-kick was a picture of perfection, burying itself right in the top corner, his second rolled finish into the far corner - almost sarcastic in its execution - was almost even better.

Earlier in the month, we published a blog which explained how Tottenham striker Harry Kane had been the most decisive player in the Premier League this season, with Eriksen fifth in the table having won 12 points with his eight combined goals and assists to Kane's 15 points with his 10.

Having taken Spurs to a Wembley final, Eriksen has only increased his value to the team and if you just consider goals, his input exceeds even that of striker Kane. Already this season he has scored the winning goals in 2-1 wins over Hull City, Swansea, Leicester and Sunderland; the only goal in a 1-0 win over Southampton; the second in a 2-2 draw against Southampton; and the first in a 2-1 win over Everton.

Daniel Taylor, The Guardian: "Spurs were certainly the better side but it sums up the home side’s attitude that it became such a nervy encounter bearing in mind the long spells of superiority from the visitors once Eriksen had opened the scoring, making it 2-0 on aggregate, with a free-kick from an almost implausible angle. Eriksen struck the ball from close to the corner point of the penalty area – in other words, a position where most players would not have considered shooting was worthwhile – and it was an extraordinary demonstration of how to control the ball with speed, power and just the right amount of bend. The shot had plenty of force behind it but it was the way the ball swerved and dipped at the last moment, with the deception of the trajectory, that left Howard almost motionless on his goalline. 'No goalkeeper in the world could have saved it,' Clough said."

Henry Winter, The Telegraph: "When Stambouli was fouled 25 yards out, Eriksen and Erik Lamela stood over the ball as Mike Dean did the 10-yard duties with the vanishing spray. The free-kick was slightly right of centre and United built a two-man wall protecting Howard’s left-hand post. Howard prepared himself on the line. Nothing could prepare him for what happened next. As Eriksen ran in, the Dane shaped to play the ball to the near-post, prompting Howard to take two steps to the left. Eriksen continued his run, connecting with the ball, lifting it high and seemingly flying wide to Howard’s right. The keeper watched its journey, believing it was heading harmlessly out. Yet it dipped, dropping under the bar, kissing the post and landing in the net. It was a magnificent right-footed strike, echoing a David Beckham special against Everton in 2003."