Eric Dier: “The message is simple - work hard, improve quickly”

Eric Dier is relishing working under Antonio Conte.

Ever-present in the Premier League this term, the central defender is in a rich vein of form and now flourishing in Antonio’s 3-5-2 system, playing in the middle of a three-man defensive unit that has contributed to two clean sheets in three league matches so far.

Antonio has been at the Club for just over a month now, overseeing us close the gap back to the top four to just two points, with Norwich City next up at home on Sunday (2pm) and a game in hand following our postponement at Burnley last weekend.

What has been Antonio’s message to the group? “The message is very simple,” said Eric. “We need to work very hard and try to improve as quicky as possible as a team, put ourselves in a much better position, a position that, if we believe we should be there, to go out and show it every day in training, and take that into games.

“I’m really enjoying it, to get the chance to work under a manager of Antonio’s calibre, with his history, is a great experience for any player, a great opportunity to improve and learn.

“I’m really excited for it. It’s been a really good four or five weeks. I look at it as being in a very lucky position to be able to work under another fantastic manager and try to improve.

“He has incredible passion for football, intensity in his work every day in training and for every game, no matter the opposition or the competition. Every day is intense, something that is really enjoyable to be around and to learn from, and that’s my objective and the objective of the team as well.”