When you’re a Chelsea fan, you’ve got most likely seen this clip quite a bit prior to now 12-15 hours. When you’re a fan of one other staff, you may not even have paid consideration to it when it occurred throughout the recreation.

Within the first half of the season, Thiago Silva, one of many world’s most skilled center-backs, put out the fires. However now, with the injured Brazilian veteran, that determine has been Andreas Christensen.

Christensen, the son of a former skilled goalkeeper, signed for Chelsea on the age of 16 and actually rose to fame on a two-year mortgage take care of Bundesliga membership Borussia Monchengladbach. There was plenty of pleasure for his comeback and he excelled in Antonio Conte’s system. It regarded like Chelsea had a pure successor to former captain John Terry. Perhaps not within the vocal management model, somebody with their coronary heart on their chest, however as a defender enjoying ball. Ex-Chelsea participant and mortgage supervisor Eddie Newton mentioned so when talking about this Gladbach destiny.

“He is an unbelievable footballer,” he mentioned. “He is a participant that the membership ought to be pleased with and that we might definitely have right here for the subsequent 10 years and be one other John Terry.”

However the final two seasons have been tough for Christensen. He had harm points and located himself out of favor below Maurizio Sarri and Frank Lampard, who by no means actually appeared to decide on their favourite center-backs.

This was not the case below Tuchel. Christensen got here to exchange Silva when he was injured in opposition to Tottenham Hotspur and has been a participant ever since. Chelsea stay undefeated below Tuchel and have defeated Liverpool and Atletico Madrid, in addition to Spurs alongside the best way.

Christensen performed an essential position there. The stats communicate for themselves, with final evening’s being that he collected extra balls (seven) than anybody else within the first half. Towards Liverpool he made 9 clearances, probably the most Chelsea have ever performed in a Premier League recreation for nearly three years. He has ticked all of the defensive containers to this point since his arrival.

However on Monday evening, one thing else modified: what Christensen was doing when the ball was at his ft. He has at all times been a proficient distributor of the ball, however his lack of consistency in enjoying time clearly affected his confidence.

For the primary time in what seems like an age, Christensen placed on a present together with his passing. It was thread the ball. Discover gaps and smash his passes by the midfield traces to seek out the gamers within the closing third. His ball on prime to Marcos Alonso to place the wing by was Jorginho-esque and that is essential for Tuchel. If he will pair N’Golo Kante with Mateo Kovacic for extra chunk, he wants somebody to play these protection division passes and Christensen can do it. It turns into much more essential if Kovacic is turned in order that Mason Mount performs deeper.

It’s exceptional to consider how Silva was signed final 12 months as a result of there have been considerations concerning the stage of protection, and Chelsea have been utilizing it as a stopgap earlier than giving it their all for somebody like Dayot Upamecano or Declan Rice the next summer time. Actually, the solutions have been there from the beginning. Silva acquired the very best out of Zouma and now Tuchel, with assist from Silva, you’d think about, is getting the very best out of Christensen.

He has confronted high-quality opposition over the previous two months and has handed each check with flying colours, together with his show in opposition to Sadio Mane. Christensen is a kind of defenders who is way sooner than he seems and whereas he would by no means beat Mane in a direct dash, he makes use of the pitch intelligently to make any run between him and way more uniform sooner gamers.

That is what Tuchel mentioned after this win at Anfield.

“Andreas got here in in the course of the primary half in opposition to Tottenham (when Silva acquired injured) which was actually arduous to do, and from the primary minute he was completely spectacular,” he mentioned .

“He is courageous, sturdy in particular person challenges, brave and sensible in preparation, and performs with plenty of confidence. I’m completely glad together with his efficiency and his progress. He performed an essential position in our efficiency.

After all, the caveat right here is, would Christensen have had his probability if Silva hadn’t been injured? Antonio Rudiger is clearly a favourite of Tuchel and the German boss has loved having captain Cesar Azpilicueta in his again three for his expertise as nicely. Perhaps he would not, however soccer is filled with sliding door moments and Christensen deserves all credit score for giving it a shot.

With Zouma’s return and studies of recent offers for Rudiger and Christensen, it seems like Chelsea may very well be placed on protection, at the least for now. Malang Sarr did not mild Porto the identical approach Christensen did in Gladbach and will get one other mortgage, but when Chelsea can come to a deal to carry Silva again they are going to have 5 choices, which ought to be greater than sufficient.

Immediately Chelsea center-backs are maybe the furthest away from wherever on the pitch and that may enable the membership to show to different extra pressing areas, such because the goalkeeper and center-forward. Christensen can be 25 subsequent month, Zouma 27 within the fall, whereas Rudiger continues to be solely 28. They seem to be a comparatively younger unit and there may lastly be some type of consistency Chelsea crave since they mentioned goodbye to Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill and Terry.