Dundee United goalkeeper Saku Eriksson has admitted that life at Tannadice this season 'hasn't been fun' as a result of the humiliating losses to Celtic and AZ Alkmaar so far in the current campaign.
Eriksson joined United from Mjallby AIF in January on a free transfer and has joined Australian keeper Mark Birighitti in a bid to replace Benjamin Siegrist, who joined Celtic on similar terms earlier in the window. Initially acting as backup to Birighitti this season, the Socceroo was dropped from the squad after being the man between the sticks for the 7-0 humiliation in Alkmaar and a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Hearts.
Eriksson was brought into stop the rot, albeit his debut couldn't have gone much worse with a 3-0 home defeat to St Mirren that saw the players booed off. And, if he thought that the only way was up from there, the one-time Finland international would have to think again just a week later when Celtic put nine past him at Tannadice. And, with the Tangerines currently managerless, bottom of the league and without a win in six league games, Eriksson has admitted that his start to life on the Firth of Tay has been nothing short of abysmal.
“You never want to let nine goals in, or seven or three, or what-not. You want to keep a clean sheet, so it hasn’t been fun," Eriksson said. "But I think when you get trashed 7-0 or 9-0, both Mark (Birighitti) and I looked in the mirror and thought about what we could do better.
“Certainly there were parts for both of us but at the same time you don’t get beat 9-0 just because of bad goalkeeping. It’s tough but the most important thing is to try and go forward with confidence and let the defenders feel that you’re still confident, and have the trust in yourself because you need them to believe in you.
“We’ve taken the first steps by keeping a clean sheet against Motherwell. I’ve had 12 head coaches in the last eight years so it wasn’t a new situation for me, sadly.
“I know that’s not a track record to be proud of! It’s been a weird period. As players we’ve all been in situations like this before but the numbers have just been worse than ever for everyone, in terms of the Alkmaar game, then Hearts, St Mirren, Celtic.”
Up next for United is a trip to Rangers on Saturday, which is typically one of, if not the toughest trip in Scottish football. But with the Gers failing to get positive results under their belts at the moment, a surprise result might - just might - be in the offing.
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