Chelsea: The curious case of Andreas Christensen

Andreas Christensen’s talent was undisputed coming through the ranks, so why is he viewed differently compared to other recent Chelsea academy graduates?

The 31st August 2019 was a memorable, if ultimately disappointing day at the Bridge. It was my first game seeing the Blues in person since Frank Lampard’s triumphant return as Chelsea boss. Despite the momentous occasion, my routine was the same. I grabbed a programme and had a quick drink before making my way through the turnstile—the pregame ritual never changes. Passing the club megastore, which was packed as it always is before a game, I caught a glimpse of Chelsea’s new kits for the season displayed in the window. There, I saw the sight that had been exciting all Chelsea fans long before that day in late August.

There they were—adorned above the entrance—Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Reece James side by side with photos of Ruben Loftus-Cheek displayed in the window. The pre-match buzz had quite rightly been about these young lads—and Fikayo Tomori, of course. This buzz would go on to be further cemented that day, with Abraham, Tomori and Mount producing fantastic displays, despite the team dropping two points. However, something felt like it was missing from the celebration of the current academy heroes, which stuck with me after the game against Chris Wilder’s tenacious Sheffield United side. Where was Andreas Christensen in all of this?

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The 24-year-old, who has been with the club since moving from Brondby as a 14-year-old, has been a figure that seems almost erased from the tale of Chelsea’s recent graduate success. After a highly successful two-season loan spell with Borussia Monchengladbach, the young Dane became an integral part of Antonio Conte’s 2018 FA Cup winning team. He fit seamlessly into the famous back-three system that had proved such a stable foundation in the Blues’ title winning season the previous year.

There has never been any doubt about his ability to play at the highest level. While viewing him in a Champions League tie at the Nou Camp during his loan spell, Eddie Newton, the Loan Technical Coach at the time, spoke glowingly of his performance:

"“I was so proud when I walked away from the stadium. Even though they lost, he was outstanding. Because he reads the game so well and he plays with a maturity way beyond his years and a composure way beyond his years. He was Chelsea level. Simple as that”"

Newton would go on to give the Dane the highest mark he had ever given a player on the loan programme.

Three years on from his loan spell in the Bundesliga—with an FA Cup and a Europa League under his belt—Christensen has shown in part that he is the accomplished, ball-playing defender that is so integral to the modern game. On his day, he can be Chelsea’s most reliable centrehalf. Further, he is still the club’s best centre half with the ball at his feet—aside from maybe Thiago Silva—equally as comfortable bringing the ball into the opposition half as he is playing controlled passes.

However, there is no doubt his performances have stuttered at times. Focusing on his performances to date under Lampard—while retaining all his invaluable attributes with the ball at his feet—the Dane has been left wanting at times. Both in individual duels against some of the Premier League’s more physically wily forwards, as well as positionally, but the team’s defensive deficiencies can’t sit at the feet of just one player. Christensen has a fantastic opportunity to learn to consistently produce top performances with the arrival of Silva in defense and Anthony Barry to the coaching staff. Indeed, it is a step he needs to make this season in order to curtail any talk of it being the last chance saloon for him at the club.

In order to understand why he is not as revered to the same extent as other Chelsea academy graduates are, many might point to other reasons for this. Most notably the fact he just doesn’t quite fit the narrative of the young Englishmen who joined the club at the age of six or eight years old, but this seems too simple an explanation. To doubt his passion for the club, assuming it’s any less than that of our other graduates would be a ludicrous claim. Thankfully, this is not something I have heard muttered from fans on the terraces. Although in some regards, this is the problem as he is rarely the subject of discussion in supporter circles.

His path to the first team has been markedly different from the new blood that came in under Lampard and Jody Morris’ first season in charge. In some ways, he is the victim of his own talent, with possibly only Hudson-Odoi having a quicker transition from academy to first team. While other graduates were sent out on multiple loan spells in the English lower leagues (Mount being a notable exception, spending a year in the Eredivisie with Vitesse before Derby), the youth staff at Chelsea believed anything other than a top European league for Christensen’s loan spell would hinder his development. Upon his return from Germany, he was lauded by Conte and made 27 Premier League starts in the Italian’s final season. However, the attitude towards youth players just three seasons ago was different, he had to hit the ground running and there was not time to be able to develop further. That is not easy for any player who has only just come out of their teenage years.

You could argue Christensen was a bit of a trend setter, the first academy player to genuinely break into the first team since John Terry. Christensen’s unique position compared to the new crop of youth graduates is a blessing and a curse. Without the collective pressure of the fan base to be the ‘new generation’ of Chelsea youngsters, he can get on with developing his game. On the other hand, he could be treated like a generic signing who got long in the tooth if he can’t make the step up this season.

Christensen’s erratic displays this season give little away to which direction his Chelsea career will go, but be grateful for the Blues’ tenacious and still young Danish centrehalf. He puts the club above himself and is still hungry to establish himself as the first defensive name on the team sheet. Just last July, he stated his desire for a contract extension while expressing his love for Chelsea. This will be a make or break season for the Dane, but if his performances can match his commitment to the club, he’ll be mentioned alongside Mount, James, Abraham, Tomori, Hudson-Odoi and others before long.

What do you believe the future holds for Christensen at Chelsea? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!