克里斯坦森：我們是一支難以對付的球隊、若日尼奧是場上領袖 - 切爾西足球俱樂部 Chelsea Football Club

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2021/05/04/
christensen--we-re-trying-to-be-a-horrible-team

Christensen: We can't let them breathe

04 May 2021


Andreas Christensen has spoken about the importance of showing plenty of
steel in defence when we face Real Madrid in the Champions League
semi-finals at Stamford Bridge tomorrow evening.


https://i.imgur.com/KsONmgp.jpg


After a 1-1 draw in last week's first leg in Madrid, Chelsea know that a
clean sheet in west London tomorrow will guarantee us a place in the
Champions League final, thanks to Christian Pulisic's away goal at the
Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.


According to the centre-back, he isn't feeling any added pressure on the
defence due to that fact, and believes the key will be to stay calm and
repeat our performance from the first match and our recent games in
general.


'We know that we are a difficult team to play against at the moment, but
at the same time we have so much quality up front and in the way we play,'
Christensen explained. 'So there's no extra pressure from our side, we
will just try to do what we normally do, what we've done for so long now,
and at the same time show our quality going forward.'


He also claimed a big part of that is to continue ensuring we are a team
that opponents hate playing against, with that relentless approach without
the ball contributing immensely to our impressive number of clean sheets
under head coach Thomas Tuchel.


'We changed the system, which obviously worked really well, and every game
we are growing, not just as a back five but as a whole team. We're trying
to be a very difficult team to play against, a horrible team, and then as
soon as we get the ball we want to play good football, quick football,
with a lot of energy.


'Everyone's just trying to work on the same idea, there are new ideas
coming across that we've tried to take onboard very quickly, and at the
moment we're growing and when things work out you gain confidence and
you're just trying to do the same things, work on the same things and make
things work even better than they are at the moment.


https://i.imgur.com/4YBtjm4.jpg
Christensen in action in the first leg against Real Madrid


'There's a lot of structure and a lot of discipline involved, especially
when we don't have the ball. We want to bring a lot of energy, we can't
let them breathe too much. We try to be smart about it so we don't run
ourselves out of energy at the top level. As soon as we get the ball we
either take it calm or we take a quick decision to play direct.


'Against teams that are used to having the ball a lot, we might need to
herd them, if that makes sense, and when we have the ball they might not
like to run, so we need to use that. So we are always thinking about what
we can do to help ourselves and there's a lot of details to it.'


If we are successful in that aim of progressing against Real Madrid, it
will mean our first Champions League final appearance since we won the
competition for the first time in 2012. Back then, Christensen was on the
verge of joining the club as a youngster, with the chance of repeating
that success one of the reasons he was keen to come to Stamford Bridge.


'It's something we really want to try and win. That's why we all play
football, for these big trophies,' he added. 'I knew already that I was
going to go to Chelsea when they won it and I was following it very
closely. So I had that hope at the time, and it's still there, that I want
to do that too one day. Everyone at the club wants to be part of this
history.


https://i.imgur.com/hvKmtEG.jpg
Pulisic scores our away goal in Madrid


'Obviously I'd just turned 16 so I was quite young and knew it was
probably a long road before I could be a part of it, but the quality that
was at the club and the whole set-up, that was what got me here in the
first place.


'We've been fighting for it again for a long time and it hasn't quite
happened, but I think we are in a good position. We have a good balance
between the young hunger and the more experienced players. We're
definitely looking forward to tomorrow in the sense that it means a lot to
us and the club as a whole.'


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https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2021/05/05/
christensen--playing-with-him-brings-us-confidence

Christensen: Playing with him brings us confidence

05 May 2021


Andreas Christensen has discussed the importance of experience in big
games and explained why Thiago Silva and Jorginho are so vital to the team
ahead of our Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid.


https://i.imgur.com/AjeBfmg.jpg


With Chelsea holding a narrow away-goal lead following a 1-1 draw in the
first game in Spain, we will be attempting to secure our first appearance
in the final since we won the competition nine years ago when we host Real
Madrid at Stamford Bridge this evening.


The Danish defender admitted this could be the biggest match of his career
so far and that our opponents' extensive experience of big matches could
be a factor, but feels we have the right balance of experience and youth
for any occasion.


'It could very well be, it's got massive importance, not just for me but
for the whole club,' said Christensen.


https://i.imgur.com/UmchhKk.jpg
Thiago Silva sticks close to Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema


'They've got huge experience of these kind of games and that can show in a
game of this magnitude, but we've been building quite a good balance
between the young hunger and the players with experience and we need to
bring that balance to the game. That's definitely going to help us.'


He also believes the fact that every game we play at the moment, in every
competition, feels like such an important fixture will help the Blues to
approach it like any other game, concentrating on our performance without
being distracted by the occasion.


'It is hard to go into it and play it just like a normal game because we
know how much it means to the club, as it's been a while since we've been
in this situation. I can only say that we will do everything we can to try
and play our game, like we did in the first game. But at the same time
it's very difficult.


'We have the FA Cup final, we're fighting for the top four, so every game
at the moment is very tough and means a lot, which could probably help us
in a situation like this.'


One of the players bringing the experience he mentioned to the squad is
Thiago Silva, who reached last season's Champions League final with Paris
Saint-Germain, although Christensen says the task of keeping our heads
under pressure is a team effort.


'It's not just him, it's also working together every day as a unit.
Obviously he's going to bring a lot of experience and a lot of calmness in
his personality. We have some players who've won a lot and he's one of
them. Bringing that in with the other players that have here, we've grown
as a team, we've grown as a unit. Everyone has been gaining confidence
with every game.'


Another player he says helps bring that calm and confidence on the pitch
is Jorginho, who he explains is crucial to how we want to play as a team.


'When we don't have the ball we try to be an annoying team, a horrible
team to play against, and as soon as we get the ball we want to play
football. That's our style and the players we have, that fits us quite
well.


https://i.imgur.com/F7ETbBJ.jpg
Jorginho keeps the ball moving in Madrid


'Jorginho's probably one of the best ball-playing midfielders you can have
in your team. He has a lot of confidence in what he does on the pitch and
that brings us confidence as well, playing with him.


'He's got a massive part in the way we play and at the same time, when he
brings that confidence, he's a leader on the pitch as well, which I hope
you can see from the outside. When he brings that calmness and confidence,
he just makes the team play better.'

--


Burrell: "If the Gods are fucking you, you find a way to fuck them back.
It's Baltimore, gentlemen. The Gods will not save you."

- The Wire Season 3 Episode 3

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