It has been revealed that Andreas Christensen was not left out of the Chelsea squad that suffered defeat to Liverpool in the FA Cup final last weekend.
He had, in fact, requested to not play before leaving the team hotel. It came as a shock to the other players, and quite frankly, it came as a shock to several fans, including myself.
Christensen was not expected to stay at Chelsea after the summer transfer window. His exit was deemed inevitable, having been linked with a move to Barcelona on a free transfer.
The Blues have been preparing for his replacement since the Danish international declined a new contract offer that he had once agreed on at the back end of last year. Jules Kounde has been the name ringing around the Chelsea camp, but before any moves can be made, Christensen at least owed us the privilege of finishing off the season on a high. I guess he had other plans.
Read More: What Andreas Christensen did that shocked Chelsea players ahead of FA Cup final vs Liverpool
To maintain a legacy, you must maintain your relationship with the club and the fanbase. There is no legacy to come back to without the fanbase, and it's as simple as that. Andreas Christensen has given the Blues some stellar performances.
His nine-year Chelsea career has helped him evolve into the technical baller he is today. It's sad to see him leave at the young age of 26 with his best defensive years still yet to come. Before the FA Cup final, his legacy was still intact, and the majority of the fanbase remained respectful of his decision despite the shock that came with it. But now, there's not much that he can do to salvage a warm goodbye.
It is understood that Christensen was not carrying an injury like Kai Havertz and Timo Werner, yet he told Thomas Tuchel on the Saturday morning that he would not be playing in the afternoon. It is not clear what his reasoning is. However, he had apparently fallen sick during the week.
If there is a way to see yourself out of a club in peace, this is probably not it. Just ask Thibaut Courtois. Since the Belgian left Chelsea back in 2019, he has been labelled as 'Judas', and fans have not forgotten his antics to force his move to Real Madrid. The goalkeeper missed training sessions and was adamant about a move to Madrid, forcing Chelsea to spend close to £80 million on a panic buy, Kepa Arrizabalaga. I guess you can decide which situation is worse, but for me, both are as bad as each other.
Removing yourself from the squad on the same morning of an FA Cup final is a major red flag. I can only respect Antonio Rudiger even more. Rudiger's contract negotiations have been in the public eye since last season. From his fall out with Frank Lampard right up to signing with Real Madrid, he has remained professional and continuously given 100% in all of his games. That's a man that should be held in high regard when he leaves this summer. Unfortunately, Christensen will no longer be remembered in a positive light.
Here's what Chelsea fans on Twitter have had to say about the situation.
