Brandon Williams explained his decision to hug Christian Eriksen during Norwich City s recent 3-1 defeat to Brentford was pure instinct following the Dane s ordeal.
A video clip went viral on Saturday after a comical and heart-warming moment between Williams and Eriksen, who initially looked set for an angry tussle.
Eriksen grappled with Williams in an attempt to halt a Norwich attack, and the two players fell to the floor in a pile.
Williams reaction suggested anger as he appeared about to pin the midfielder down, but upon realising who it was he was tussling with, he instead gave Eriksen a hug – the latter s confused smile as he got up said it all about the amusing exchange.
Four days on, Norwich defender Williams has spoken publicly about his gesture, which he says came from a place of awe following Eriksen s return to the football pitch less than a year after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing for Denmark at Euro 2020.
I ve always been the guy trying to make the team play better and that role is not going to be any different now with Brentford on a winning full debut at the weekend
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC)
Obviously, it was just a moment that happened, it was just instincts, Williams told Sky Sports.
I got past him and I felt him pull me down, so we were on the attack and I was really angry.
I was going to…hold him, but I know what he s been through, and it s incredible what he s done, and he s back now.
It was something special for him to be on the pitch for himself, and to be involved in that, I felt like he needed a hug.
[Eriksen s health emergency] is something that no player wants to go through, it was amazing that he s back and he s a top quality player. I m sure he ll be back to his best very soon.
