Andreas Christensen

[Ledg 643]

Unless Tuchel was told by the medical staff that Silva won't make it for Tuesday, I don't see why AC was not playing in the centre of the back 3. Probably was saved.

[NikkiCFC 8,287]

Any chance he can play LCB and replace Rudiger? He is doing well but once Silva is back he will lose that spot. I know also RCB is more natural for him but Azpi won't be dropped either. 

[Vesper 30,099]

Chelsea's best player last night wasn't Giroud

 

Wednesday February 24 2021 Matt Law's Chelsea briefing

Christensen is coming good — just like Emenalo predicted By Matt Law, Football News Correspondent When Michael Emenalo departed Chelsea he described Andreas Christensen as the best possible leaving present. It was a moment of great pride to Emenalo that in his last day as a Chelsea employee, Christensen repaid his faith and years of hard work. Against Manchester United, five days after a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Roma in the Champions League, former head coach Antonio Conte drafted Christensen into the heart of his back three. The move worked and Emenalo, knowing he would formally resign from his post as technical director the next day, could not have been happier. So it is safe to assume that Emenalo would have watched Chelsea’s Champions League first-leg victory over Atletico Madrid with a smile on his face, as Christensen helped to frustrate Luis Suarez. Olivier Giroud’s spectacular winner grabbed the headlines and the replays, but Christensen was Chelsea’s best player in Bucharest — not putting a foot wrong defensively and, as usual, using the ball well in possession. Christensen prevented Suarez having much influence in last night's game CREDIT: GETTY Thiago Silva’s injury had been viewed as a serious blow for Thomas Tuchel, but the Conte defensive blueprint is working well for him so far and Christensen has slotted back into his old position with ease. The 24-year-old clearly likes having the experience of captain Cesar Azpilicueta alongside him in a back three and Chelsea are yet to concede a goal to the opposition in the games in which Christensen has started under Tuchel after he was left out of the 1-1 draw with Southampton. Tuchel will have a big dilemma on his hands when Thiago returns from injury, perhaps as soon as Sunday for the visit of Manchester United in the Premier League. And Chelsea have crucial negotiations looming over Christensen’s future, with the player’s contract due to expire in the summer of 2022. With the club in the market for a new central defender, Christensen will want to be sure that he can fight for a first-team place at Stamford Bridge before committing his long-term future to Chelsea. And he will also be aware that more good performances for Denmark at this summer’s European Championships will only enhance his reputation across Europe. Chelsea will be painfully aware of how players such as Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne have come back to haunt them after going away to mature elsewhere, but they and Tuchel will need to demonstrate the sort of faith Emenalo first showed in Christensen. It was Emenalo who signed Christensen from Brondby back in 2012 and who devised the two-year loan at Borussia Monchengladbach to get him ready for first-team football in the Premier League. Talking about Emenalo’s influence, Christensen said: “People from the outside don’t always see the whole picture. For me he did a great job. Sometimes it is easy to say things when you don’t know what’s going on. “He was the first one at Chelsea to insist that I signed here. After I joined, he always said his office door was open to me. “If he could see I was concerned about something he’d reassure me, just by saying simple things like, ‘Don’t worry, the manager can see what you’re capable of, just keep doing what you’re doing.’ Those statements helped me keep my head held up high, to keep looking forward and ready for what might happen.” Chelsea’s head coaches have had their doubts about Christensen, while injuries have also slowed his progress. It was cruel that he missed the FA Cup final victory over Manchester United with a back problem at the end of his breakout season. He played in the following season’s Europa League final victory over Arsenal, having benefited from an injury to Antonio Rudiger, and was part of a heavily rotated central defence under Frank Lampard. But it is not since those early performances in Conte’s back three, in 2017, that Chelsea fans have really seen just why Emenalo rated him as such a special talent and personality. It was during his In-house interview explaining his decision to leave Chelsea, that Emenalo singled out Christensen as a source of great pride. "Andreas, unbeknown to him, gave me a wonderful parting gift because his performance [against Manchester United] is indicative of what development is all about,” said Emenalo. “Development equals humility, hard work and timing and Andreas has done all three. "He’s shown great humility to go on loan and work very hard while he was there and gain the experience which is needed, and the timing is right for him now to step in and show what he’s learnt during those periods of development." Christensen’s timing against Atletico could not have been better, as he gave Chelsea the perfect reminder of Emenalo’s parting gift.

[killer1257 3,282]

I don't think that our CBs had much defending to do. 

[MoroccanBlue 5,376]

15 hours ago, NikkiCFC said:

Any chance he can play LCB and replace Rudiger? He is doing well but once Silva is back he will lose that spot. I know also RCB is more natural for him but Azpi won't be dropped either. 

As much as we slate Rudiger, he's doing two jobs. Covering his space along with Alonso's. Think he's been fine so far. 

Sweeper role definitely made for Christensen. 

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

On 24/02/2021 at 13:00, killer1257 said:

I don't think that our CBs had much defending to do. 

He was comfortable the whole game, up against Luis Suarez who evidently still has a bit as he’s shown for Atletico this season, every challenge he had to make was immaculate and his reading of the game made it look easy. Yes Atletico could of played better or been more attacking at times but he still had to do things and what he did, he did very well. 

He keeps going like he has done under Tuchel to the end of the season, I can see him getting a deal.

[milka 3,390]

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

Best and most improved player under TT so far now IMO. Flawless again.

[Nero 1,869]

And now he's shows why!

[Jase 43,479]

Just now, Patrick Bamford said:

And now he's shows why!

He's always been decent in a back 3. I want to see him in a back 4 again before screaming from the rooftop over him.

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

Getting repetitive now but flawless. Again. 3rd big game in a row. At this rate Thiago Silva will not just waltz back in when hes fit. 

[Nero 1,869]

7 minutes ago, Jason said:

He's always been decent in a back 3. I want to see him in a back 4 again before screaming from the rooftop over him.

Yeah, you right. Remember David Luiz under Conte 2017?

[Jase 43,479]

2 minutes ago, Patrick Bamford said:

Yeah, you right. Remember David Luiz under Conte 2017?

Yes and if we're going to go gaga over Christensen, then maybe the same should be done for Rudiger, who has also looked solid all of a sudden. Heck, even Azpi too!

[DDA 9,924]

1 hour ago, Jason said:

Yes and if we're going to go gaga over Christensen, then maybe the same should be done for Rudiger, who has also looked solid all of a sudden. Heck, even Azpi too!

Rudiger looks like an absolute rock back there... wtf happened! He actually looks physically bigger.

[manpe 10,861]

So impressed with him, another epic performance! When Silva got injured I was very worried how AC would fare in the middle of defence, but he's done brilliantly since being subbed on against Sp*rs. So much so that he cannot just be automatically dropped when Silva gets fit.