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Chelsea vs Real Madrid: Three lessons learnt as Blues advance

By Gabe Henderson

Chelsea's English midfielder Mason Mount leaves the pitch after being substituted off during the UEFA Champions League second leg semi-final football match between Chelsea and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge in London on May 5, 2021. - Chelsea won the match 2-0. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's English midfielder Mason Mount leaves the pitch after being substituted off during the UEFA Champions League second leg semi-final football match between Chelsea and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge in London on May 5, 2021. - Chelsea won the match 2-0. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 05: Andreas Christensen of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg match between Chelsea and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on May 5, 2021 in London, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around Europe remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 05: Andreas Christensen of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg match between Chelsea and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on May 5, 2021 in London, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around Europe remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images) /

2. Andreas Christensen is Chelsea’s future

There was a time where many (myself included) thought Andreas Christensen’s time in west London was coming to an end. He has been wildly inconsistent ever since that night against Barcelona in 2018, but over the last season or so, the Dane has been immense. Christensen came back into favor under Tuchel following Thiago Silva’s injury at Tottenham and has seldom missed a start since. The manager has even dropped players like Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi in favor of fielding the centerback alongside Silva in the back three more recently.

Christensen was unfairly labeled as a soft defender prior to this season—both mentally and physically. However, he’s since disproved that notion by shutting down some of the world’s strongest forwards. The 25-year-old has pocketed Luis Suarez and Karim Benzema in recent weeks, and that’s just the strong individuals he’s contained. Christensen has played a hand in keeping Eden Hazard, Mohamed Salah, Son Heung-min and Joao Felix quiet, as well. That’s also just since Tuchel has taken over at Chelsea.

A lot of discussions have taken place over the last few months in regards to which defenders Chelsea could purchase in the transfer market this summer. Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate were amongst those brought up, but if we’re being honest, I’m taking Christensen over the pair of them. The Dane still has a lot of career left and there is no shortage of potential. John Terry named Christensen as a player for the future for Chelsea back in 2014 and boy, was he correct.

The only thing left is for the defender to sign a contract extension and his place will be solidified for many years to come. There are a lot of veterans like Azpilicueta and Silva in the starting XI, so there understandably a lot of unknowns. Luckily, Christensen does not seem to be one of them.

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