Eric Dier: "I don’t think there’s ever a good time to face PSG"

Fresh off a standout performance in the 2–0 win over Olympique de Marseille, Eric Dier has formed the central pairing alongside Sadibou Sané in this opening stretch, contributing to AS Monaco’s four victories across all competitions. He sat down with the press to discuss his current situation and the upcoming showdown with PSG. Highlights below 🎙️

On his personal situation this summer 🔙

Rumours? It’s a normal situation in football, it happens all the time — for clubs and for players. It’s not the first time in my career, so I just try to focus on what I can control: training well, playing well, staying healthy and being available for the team. Everything else is out of my hands, so I don’t spend too much energy on it.

His relationship with coach Filipe Luís 🤝

From my side, I really enjoy working with him every day — from the very first day, actually. Learning his principles in training, applying them, and observing how he manages the group is genuinely fascinating. I also like that he gets involved in sessions on the pitch, and I enjoy the way we play under him.

On Lamine Camara 🇸🇳

I didn’t really have the chance to talk about the situation with him this morning. I think you’ve already discussed it with the CEO and the coach, and it’s not really my responsibility to comment on it. As a teammate, my role is simply to be there for him if he needs anything — like for anyone else. It’s obviously a difficult situation, but it’s not the first time something like this happens in football, it’s actually quite common. Maybe it’s the first time for him. He’s young, but already very mature and focused, so I don’t think it will affect him. And if he needs anything, he knows I’ll be there. Now the subject is closed, and we need to move forward together in the best way possible. I even think it can be a good experience for him for the future.

The clash with Paris at the Parc 🏟️

Is it the right moment to play them? (Smiles) Honestly, I don’t think there’s ever a good time to face a team like Paris Saint‑Germain. Their preparation is exactly the same as before their last two league matches. We’re talking about the best team in the world over the last two years, full of world‑class players and led by one of the best coaches on the planet. I don’t think we can draw conclusions from their first two results. Three months ago they won the Champions League again — that’s not long ago — so our respect for them is exactly the same.

On Paris’ attacking strength ⚡

They have a lot of movement within their hybrid system — players drifting between the lines, very mobile. The coach will give us the game plan he wants, and for us it’s mainly about managing those constant movements and communicating well to deal with them together.

On his first season at the Club 📊

Was I surprised by the level in Ligue 1? Not really, I knew what to expect. The main issue for me was physical: I only played 13 matches and had three injuries, including two setbacks, which had never happened to me before. That was the biggest problem last year.

On his coaching badges 🎓

It’s something I started before coming to Monaco, so I’m just continuing what I began. When I was injured, it was actually a good thing to spend time on it and stay connected to football. The instructions I gave in French? Maybe soon I’ll try to do a press conference in French (smiles). It’s always been important for me to learn the language of the country I’m in — out of respect for the people, the culture, the league. Even for the staff and the players in the dressing room, it’s about respecting the country and integrating as quickly as possible. I appreciated when my teammates did the same when they arrived in England.

His view on Paris Brunner 🔎

Obviously people talked a lot about him after the win against Marseille and his incredible goal. He’s a young player with huge potential — that’s not a surprise, everyone can see his qualities. He has a lot of strengths, especially his ability to score when he gets a chance, which is what good strikers do. Of course, there are areas where he can improve: finishing, protecting the ball, attacking spaces, positioning in the box, even physically…

At 30 you can still improve athletically, so imagine at 20! But he’s a great guy, always smiling, whether in training or in the dressing room. He’s focused and determined, so I’m happy for him. Is he faster than me? I think so (laughs). He’s quick, strong and decisive, so it’s always a challenge to play against him in training.

His partnership with Sadibou Sané 🚧

I have a very good relationship with him, and it actually goes back to last season when we played against each other. I met him in the dressing room while I was talking to Benjamin Stambouli, whom I knew from Tottenham. I asked Sadibou if he wanted to swap shirts because he’d had a great match against us! So it’s funny to now be playing together. He’s young, but what I like most is his humility — he works hard, he’s focused, and it’s great to play with someone who communicates so well. Like Paris Brunner, he has huge room for improvement, but I really enjoy playing alongside him.

On advising younger players 👨‍🏫

I think it’s part of the responsibility of an experienced player. When I was young, I benefited a lot from the advice of older teammates, and I felt lucky. It’s a role I care about — I had great examples growing up, so I try to follow that path and help younger players as much as I can. It’s important to be there for them, to support them, to be available. I also like doing specific sessions for myself, and when some of them want to join me, they’re always welcome. I try to do my best to be there for them.

His new role as vice‑captain ©️

It’s an honour and a privilege to have that responsibility. You have to take it seriously and do what’s expected: be there for the team, help players individually and collectively. It’s also about being a relay and support for the coach, motivating the team to train the right way every day. That’s the most important thing — setting the right example.