Christensen enjoying his football at Chelsea after ‘perfect’ loan at Borussia Mönchengladbach

It may have come quicker than expected — or perhaps already a year later than it should have — but Andreas Christensen is now here, is now playing, and is now first-choice so there is little reason to complain, right? (Well, unless you’re David Luiz...)

After two seasons away on loan, Christensen has now been re-integrated into the team and whether that was the plan along or he was only the fall-back option for Van Dijk or whoever Chelsea pursued in the summer, Christensen is now a solid poster-child for the Chelsea loan system working precisely as imagined by former technical director Michael Emenalo.

For Christensen himself, the experience has been equally positive, especially as Chelsea’s defending continues to improve.

"I’m happy with the way the team and me are performing. We’re getting the points that are necessary and I’m enjoying playing my football. "

"For me the loan was perfect timing. I got a lot of experience and played in the Champions League for two seasons. The Bundesliga is a high level and that was what I needed to help me come back."

Chelsea used to have a very strict policy of no repeat loans (to expose youngsters to a wide variety of situations and systems), but the likes of Christensen and Courtois are changing that slowly. Christensen spent two years at Gladbach and Courtois spent three years at Atlético, which allowed both players to become integral parts of their temporary teams. With Christensen slowly becoming integral to Chelsea as well, just as Courtois, they’re also becoming the two greatest “wins” of the much-malin loan system.

Speaking of wins, after Tuesday’s draw in the Champions League, it’s time to get back to Premier League action, with a cross-town trip to the Olympic Stadium to take on West Ham awaiting Christensen and the rest of the Blues on Saturday.

"It’s going to be difficult but we’re just concentrating on getting the points we can, right now we’re in a good place and hopefully we can build on that."

"We don’t look at who we’re playing, we just look at a tight schedule, prepare ourselves for a tough month and make sure we rest the right way."

-Andreas Christensen; source: Chelsea FC

So say we all.