The question bound to arise is who should Christensen replace? The answer is quite simple. The same player he came in for last season: David Luiz. Despite Chelsea’s one hundred percent winning start to the season, the concerns with their defense are there for all to see, at the forefront of which is the Brazilian.
In the Community Shield against Manchester City, Luiz was caught out of position multiple times. At St James Park, Luiz was directly responsible for Newcastle’s equalizer as he was caught ball watching.
In the most recent game against Bournemouth, Luiz made least three mistakes which could have easily led to an opponent goal. These mistakes are not surprising at all. One thing that is constant about David Luiz is his defensive fragilities.
Why does Sarri choose him to start over other players then? For starters, one can have doubt about his playing abilities but not his personality. Luiz is one of the favorite players in the dressing room.
Above all, he is a fighter and more importantly a leader. The lack of leaders in the current Chelsea squad is a problem well known. But for how long can Luiz’s personality compensate for his own mistakes?
Another vital aspect of Luiz’s game is his ball-playing abilities. On the ball, Luiz is probably better than any defender in the world. The need to play out from the back is a necessity in Maurizio Sarri’s system. This might be an important reason for Luiz’s importance to the new Chelsea boss.
However, Christensen himself is extremely able on the ball as well. While he does not have Luiz’s range of passing, the Danish international is comfortable on the ball and helps Chelsea move the ball forward. In most games, the 22-year old’s passing percentage was among the highest on the pitch. In the Premier League, Christensen averaged a pass success rate of 93.4% last season.
Ultimately, you have to judge a defender on his defending skills and Christensen is miles ahead in that department of Luiz. Christensen is not your typical center back. He is not someone who flies into tackles unless in an extreme situation.
It is his intelligence and off the ball movement which stands out. At most times, you will find Christensen is in the right position to ensure that life is tough for the opposition attacker.