Christensen sees himself as a Chelsea player, now and in the future

Andreas Christensen has taken a step back in importance this season after last year’s starring role (and increased scrutiny, both good and bad) under Antonio Conte, and his playing time has been almost exclusively restricted to the Europa League. While other youngsters, such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi have started getting their Premier League dues, Christensen remains firmly behind both Antonio Rüdiger and David Luiz in the pecking order for center back.

That’s not an ideal situation, but for now, he’s continuing to look at that as motivation rather than as a reason to want to leave.

“We have a couple [of Academy players] here now. Me, Callum [Hudson-Odoi] and Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] - I have played with Ruben since I was 16.

“If you are not playing, you get jealous. We are hungry to play and everything we work for is getting in the team. We know we are young but we are hungry and we want to play.”

With David Luiz still not under contract for next season, a potential transfer ban looming, and Chelsea guaranteed at least a sixth place finish and thus European commitments, there will be plenty of game-time to go around next season as well.

Christensen, despite rumors earlier this season and some fresh speculation about him wanting to leave, very much wants to be a part of all that at Chelsea still.

“It’s always difficult when I speak in Danish and it’s translated.

“I have not had a conversation with the club and they have not told me I am staying. I said I would like to stay. There has been no conversation but I can say what I want to happen and that is definitely staying.”

“I still have a long contract and I am still proud to be a Chelsea player. It has been six years, almost seven and for me it has not changed.”

“I see myself as a Chelsea player and hopefully I will keep being that.”

-Andreas Christensen; Source: Sky Sports

That’s exactly the kind of hunger and commitment we need now and in the future as well.