At the start of last season, the current back line at Chelsea looked similar. Several of the players currently being chosen by Maurizio Sarri were the same Antonio Conte picked.
But sometime close to the end of the year, Conte dropped David Luiz, due to their personal feud as per the Express and drop in form in the part of the Brazil star, as the Italian coach went in hard for Andreas Christensen, the young defender looking to break his way out oblivion.
The Dane defender was a good choice for the Italian and the fans loved his every touch. He contributed not only to Chelsea’s attack but was strong in the tackle as he made the slot in the middle of the three-man central defense his own.
Having spent the most of last season in Chelsea starting eleven, Christensen’s fortunes have changed for the worse this season. He has fallen back down the pecking order and now plays second fiddle to Antonio Rudiger and Luiz.
That is a big worry for Chelsea fans who expected another one of their academy graduates to become a mainstay of the defense and also for the club’s chief’s who thought the young defender was on his way to become a club captain.
The defense Sarri put up for his non selection of Gary Cahill can not be used here.
Sarri on Cahill: "In this moment, for a defender it's more difficult to play in my team after only 20 days of training. It's easier I think for offensive players, but for defensive players it's more difficult. In this moment he needs to have much more defensive training" #cfc
— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) August 24, 2018
Christensen reported back to Stamford Bridge early this summer, after his World Cup 2018 experience ended rather quickly. He has trained with the team and should have grasped what Sarri is teaching his new players by now.
But it appears Luiz and his elaborate style of playing defense is a favorite of Sarri who has now picked him in every game this season, at the expense of fan’s favorite Christensen. Now the 22-year old has to fight his way back into the starting team at the Bridge and hope there is very little chance for Luiz to have a shout again.
After all he is Chelsea’s new found hero last season, why ditch him so early in this campaign.
