Frank Lampard
Former Chelsea player and assistant manager Jody Morris has revealed that defender Andreas Christensen had to drop out of matches late in Frank Lampard’s stewardship of the club. It comes after the Dane pulled out of a number of games this season under Thomas Tuchel – most notably the FA Cup final – on the morning of the game. That was something revealed by the German coach, however he didn’t want to delve into the reason for the decisions.
Thomas Tuchel said: “Andreas [Christensen] came in the morning of the match [FA Cup final] to speak to me. He told me he was not ready to start the match or be on the bench. He had his reasons. They stay private and confidential. It was not the first time as you can see over the last weeks that we had some of the same situations.”
It means that, having missed the past two games, the defender may have played his last game for the club, with his contract expiring at the end of the season. His exit would put an end to a 10-year stay at the club, with the 26-year-old signing in 2012 from the Brondby academy, making his way through the Cobham ranks. La Liga side Barcelona are the ones most heavily linked with a move for him. However, in light of Christensen’s recent concerns, former assistant Morris reveals that he and Lampard also had to help the Dane in their time at the club.
Jody Morris said: “To be fair, we experienced that [pulling out of matches] ourselves when we were here working with Andreas [Christensen]. You never know what some players are going through. Whether it be nerves, whether it be something off the pitch. We experienced it a few times with Andreas but I don’t think he’s the only player who experienced it. He’s probably more honest about that sort of side of it.”
It remains to be seen whether the 26-year-old will receive his proposed Stamford Bridge farewell on Sunday though in the final game of the season against Watford, with a move away from the club edging nearer.
