Rangnick labels Eriksen recovery ‘an absolute miracle’

Austria manager Ralf Rangnick says it is “an absolute miracle” Christian Eriksen is alive, let alone playing football again without any worries.

Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest when playing for Denmark against Finland at Euro 2020 a year ago and was brought back to life on the pitch.

However, the 30-year-old was unable to play for Inter on medical grounds as Italy prevent players from competing after having a cardioverter-defibrillator fitted.

Brentford offered the midfielder a six-month contract in January and he subsequently delivered, scoring once and assisting four to help the Bees away from the relegation zone.

Thomas Frank remains hopeful of keeping Eriksen at the Brentford Community Stadium next season, despite interest from Manchester United and former club Tottenham.

Rangnick, speaking before Austria’s Nations League clash with Denmark on Monday, cannot believe Eriksen is back on the football pitch exactly a year on from the issues on June 12.

“It’s an absolute miracle [that Christian Eriksen is still alive]. I can remember the pictures of the team forming a circle around him as he was being treated,” Rangnick told reporters. 

“It really was a matter of life and death. If anyone had predicted at the time that months later, six months later, he would be able to play football again, he would not have believed it.

“I talked to Kasper [Schmeichel] about it before the game, and he also said he doesn’t worry about [Eriksen] anymore, because Eriksen enjoys it, he has no problems at all anymore so sees no problems playing.

“And it’s extraordinary that when something like this happens to you, that you go about your job and play again without any worries. This is also something extraordinary.”