He is filled with confidence. Eric Dier (31) stated his thoughts on joining AS Monaco.
Monaco announced on their club website on the 3rd (Korea time) that 'England defender Dier was introduced to the media along with Director General Thiago Scuro and two newly signed players, Paul Pogba and Ansou Fati,' conveying the details of Dier's introductory press conference.
Monaco added, 'Dier transferred by leveraging the experience he built in the defensive area. He joined as a free agent (FA) and has played at Tottenham and Bayern Munich since January 2024, having a career with over 400 appearances. Dier revealed his aspirations ahead of the start of summer training.'
Dier was a central defender who played for the England national team. A product of Sporting's youth academy, he gained attention after donning the Tottenham jersey. However, he began to fall into a slump after suffering from a sports hernia and a viral infection, ultimately becoming a benchwarmer in his later days at Tottenham.
Dier found a breakthrough with a loan move to Bayern. He joined Bayern in the winter transfer market last January, surprisingly securing a starting position ahead of Kim Min-jae. Thanks to being favored by coach Thomas Tuchel, the permanent transfer clause was quickly activated. Dier played in just the second half of the 2023-2024 season, participating in 15 Bundesliga matches and 5 UEFA Champions League (UCL) games.
However, things changed after coach Tuchel left and Vincent Kompany took over. He reinstated the duo of the quick-footed Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano, and Dier found it difficult to get playing time.
Despite that, Dier faithfully performed his backup role, waiting for opportunities, and when colleagues began to fall due to injuries in the second half of the season, he started matches. He delivered commendable performances on the field, contributing to Bayern's 33rd Bundesliga title. Dier raised his first trophy in life alongside Harry Kane and was even selected as the 8th 'National Class (NK)' center-back by Germany's Kicker magazine.
Bayern also wanted to continue their partnership with Dier. Initially, they planned not to retain him, but they were swayed by his professionalism and backup role, offering him a two-year contract. Coach Kompany publicly praised Dier often.
However, Dier chose a new challenge. He accepted Monaco's offer, which included an option to extend his contract for 3 years. Monaco was a better choice than Bayern, where he couldn't guarantee playing time as a starter. Dier stated, 'I felt that Monaco thought of nothing else but having me. They truly wanted me, and I am very grateful. They did their best to bring me in.'
Now Dier is set to roam the French stage. He said, 'I wanted to experience a new challenge after my contract with Bayern expired. Joining Monaco was the best decision for both me and my family. I felt authenticity from our first conversation and quickly gained confidence in the project.'
Dier added, 'The first conversation happened early on. Thanks to that, I was able to quickly decide on this new adventure. Fortunately, I could settle comfortably with my family. Now I look forward to exploring Monaco and the surrounding area, and adapting to the new environment.'
Dier has regained his confidence at Bayern. He exclaimed, 'Coach Adi Hütter's style at Monaco is similar to the aggressive play I performed at Bayern last year. I believe I showed my abilities well enough. I really like this style of play. Now I must prove that ability on the field.'
He did not hide his desire to return to the England national team. He stated, 'I came here to help the team as a veteran. I’ve joined an attractive squad full of promising players. My goal is to do everything I can for the success of the team by combining these two aspects. Of course, I still want to play for the England national team. I've played 49 A matches, and honestly, I'm a bit disappointed! So I want to complete 50 appearances. To do that, I need to achieve good results at the club, and that remains my top priority.'
Monaco has also signed not only Dier this summer but Paul Pogba, who has completed his doping suspension. Pogba is preparing to return to the field after about two years.
Dier expressed his thoughts about his new teammate, 'Having a player like Pogba preparing to play in Ligue 1 is very good for the club and the league as a whole. I faced him several times in the Premier League. I know how talented he is. I really look forward to playing alongside Pogba.'
Dier, who has played through Portugal, England, and Germany, now spending the twilight of his career in France, noted, 'Every player has to walk their own path. When I started my professional career, I never imagined such a journey or what team I would play for. Now, being a player for Monaco feels like a true blessing. The challenge in France excites me both as a player and as a person.'
Monaco has high expectations for Dier. Director General Scuro stated, 'Dier spoke very well about himself and is a very humble person. He will provide many solutions on the field whether the ball is in play or not. Dier will help us grow through his experience, especially with his ability to play against low defensive lines. He possesses maturity, personality, and important qualities for us. He genuinely wanted to be here, and we are very pleased to have him help us achieve our goals.'
[Photo] AS Monaco social media.
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