From the highs of securing fresh silverware and scoring his first goals in blue, to the lows of injury and illness affecting his availability, it was a mixed final campaign at Chelsea for Andreas Christensen.

Instrumental early on

It started excellently as Christensen’s outstanding performances for Denmark at Euro 2020 carried over into the new season. He played in Belfast as we won the Super Cup and then started five of our opening six league games, impressing particularly in the second-half rearguard action at Anfield when we had 10 men.

Against Brentford, a team managed by his former youth coach Thomas Frank and containing a number of his international colleagues, Christensen marshalled an inexperienced back three as we just about kept the newly-promoted team out to move to the top of the Premier League table.

Up and running!

A significant Chelsea milestone was – finally! – reached four days later. On the occasion of his 137th appearance for us, a home Champions League fixture against Malmo, Christensen confidently volleyed in his first Blues goal. The joy on his face reflected not only the long wait but, perhaps, the fact it had come against a Swedish side.

With the games coming thick and fast, and injuries and illness mounting across the squad, Thomas Tuchel continued to rotate his defence regularly. Christensen would start four of our next seven league games before the disruptions began for the Dane.

A back problem and then a positive Covid-19 test meant he was unavailable for most of January, although having waited seven years for his first Chelsea goal, a second in three months arrived against Chesterfield in the FA Cup. This one was a clever header back across the keeper, also scored in the Shed End net.

He regained fitness and good health in time for the Club World Cup, where he started both the semi-final win over Al Hilal and then the dramatic extra-time success against Palmeiras that secured the trophy for the first time in our history.

On our return from Abu Dhabi, Christensen would start five of our next seven league fixtures, continuing to move between the centre of defence and the right of a back three, and he also played in both legs of our Champions League last-16 win over Lille.

Home struggles

However, a tricky finale to the campaign began when he struggled in the first leg of the quarter-final against Real Madrid. He was not the only player in Europe to suffer at the hands of Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema this season. A couple of weeks later, a short backpass helped Arsenal take the lead at the Bridge. In both games he was subbed at half-time.

Christensen was unavailable for much of May, although he did play in the 3-0 victory at Leeds, his 34th and final appearance of an up-and-down season and with his contract coming to an end, the last of a decade-long Chelsea career.

Andreas Christensen’s 2021/22 stats

Appearances: 34

Starts: 31

Substituted: 10

Unused sub: 11

Minutes played: 2754

Goals: 2

Assists: 0

Andreas Christensen Premier League appearances 2021/22

Andreas Christensen made 19 appearances in the Premier League for Chelsea this season, of which 17 were starts.

Andreas Christensen Champions League appearances 2021/22

Andreas Christensen played eight times in the Champions League this season, all starts.

Andreas Christensen FA Cup appearances 2021/22

Andreas Christensen played three games in the FA Cup this season, all starts.

Andreas Christensen Carabao Cup appearances 2021/22

Andreas Christensen played once for Chelsea in the Carabao Cup this season, the semi-final second leg against Tottenham.

Andreas Christensen Super Cup and Club World Cup appearances 2021/22

Andreas Christensen played in the Super Cup against Villarreal as a substitute, and started both the Club World Cup semi-final and final.