Eric Dier: Tottenham defense on a clean sheet, José Mourinho and creating his own app

“I’m the resident wicketkeeper,” laughs Eric Dier, after being seen donning goalie gloves during cricket matches at Tottenham’s training ground.

Not that Dier is getting carried away.

“It’s always good to be first, but obviously it doesn’t mean much at the moment, what matters is in May,” he tells BBC Sport.

The English international is, however, an integral part of the division’s more frugal defense, with José Mourinho’s team having four clean sheets in their last five league games since conceding three goals in the final eight minutes to tie with West Ham in October.

“We were disappointed with the way things happened and then we talked about it as a group,” says Dier. “We knew we had to do better.

“It’s really a team thing to be able to defend well. It’s because 11 players do their part in whatever way is necessary.

“There has been a fantastic feeling in that sense, where everyone is willing to go the extra mile for each other and that’s really important.”

The Spurs have conceded nine goals in 10 league games this season, three of which were penalties, despite having little time to work together in training camp.

“We’ve barely been able to train because of the schedule, a lot of meetings,” adds Dier. “I feel like all season we have been defending very well.

“Southampton and Brighton were the only goals we conceded in open play, the rest were all from set pieces or a playoff after set pieces.

“That was really disappointing. That’s what we had to tackle, and we did.”

Spurs currently rank ahead of Liverpool in goal difference, although Chelsea and Leicester City play early in the weekend and could be ahead of them.

‘Mourinho is very authentic, he never changes’

Dier, who spent much of the Mauricio Pochettino era in a midfield position, says he now feels “more comfortable and more confident” in central defense, having worked hard to regain his fitness after surgery for appendix in December 2018.

Pochettino’s departure and a three-month suspension from soccer in March meant a turbulent season last time out.

With the addition of new signings and “a lot of fresh energy”, Dier sees the current campaign as “starting from scratch” with Mourinho.

“He has had ‘his’ impact,” says Dier, speaking before his Web Summit appearance, about the Portuguese’s first year in charge.

“What I mean by that is all the things that he brings, the way he wants us to be as a team on and off the pitch. The way he wants training ground to be, the training sessions.

“He has brought his own style in many different ways and everyone enjoys working with him. Very quickly, he explained what he expects of us and that has always been very clear.

“Obviously, as they spend more time together as a group and with the manager and his coaching staff, they begin to build a stronger relationship and understand each other better.

“It’s very authentic, very real, and it never changes. Working with that is nice: very honest, very direct. He is the first to be serious and also the first to make a joke when the time is right.”

Mourinho has even taken advantage of share posts on social media after games for fans to figure it out.

“He’s having fun with it, which is the most important thing, and everyone is enjoying it,” says Dier. “He’s given us some advice here and there on what he thinks is a good Instagram!”

Not that Dier needs any advice on social media.

The 26-year-old spent locked up putting the finishing touches on a social media app he founded with his brother Patrick and friend Zoe Connick that encourages users to share their favorite places, such as restaurants, cafes and hotels.

“We think it’s something everyone can relate to,” says Dier, who has most of his Spurs teammates wearing ‘Spotlas.’

“We are putting that experience by word of mouth, where you can ask your friends or family for places to go or someone from a city or country you are visiting, on a platform to make it much easier for people to be able to find the best places in whatever city they go to. ”

Working on the startup has been challenging, especially during a global pandemic, but Dier has enjoyed overcoming those challenges and having a project to focus on.

“Patrick and Zoe have worked day and night, every day, for the past two years and have invested a lot,” he adds. “Obviously football is a big part of my time, but we meet every week and discuss new ideas and everything related to the application.

“To see the final product, have it on your phone and the experience of using it has been incredible.”

It has given the former Sporting Lisbon player, who has also been pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social sciences through the Open University, a taste for future developments.

“I finished my freshman year and then Spotlas came along and took over,” explains Dier, who is already considering another app. “For me, it is very important to have different things to focus on outside of football.

“It’s good to have that distraction and to be working and learning different skills. The app has definitely given me that. I’ve learned a lot doing it: how to handle different situations, work with a startup and everything that comes with it. I’ve enjoyed all of that. process “.

However, on Sunday, his focus will be on keeping Spurs’ place at the top of the league and welcoming 2,000 fans to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time since March.

“We are very excited about that,” says Dier. “For the few who do make it, it will be a nice change and hopefully the start of some normalcy.

“We have been very lucky in that we have been able to continue doing what we love. I have tried to remember that as much as possible.

“Being able to come to train every day and keep playing games is incredible.”