Christensen: Chelsea dominated the UEFA Youth League and the FA Youth Cup
Andreas Christensen sat down with Goal to speak about Chelsea youth players and the final push to the first team, as well as how Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been doing.
"I have played with him [RLC]," Christensen told Goal. "He was one of the main guys who I was hanging out with when I got to the club. He’s a great person and a very good player and to see him doing that well, he took the step, he is the one every youth player should look up to and he took that step by staying at the club the whole time. He has been there at the club since he was very young, so I am impressed with what he has done. I text him after both of his goals. He was buzzing and was very happy and his first Premier League goal, wow.
"I watch his games and I am seeing him do a good job for Chelsea. I always text him to say 'well done' and I still have contact with him a lot despite being here at Gladbach. He keeps half an eye on Gladbach too.
"It is different for every player. Ruben is doing great," he added. "I think he could get more games but he stayed at the club and proved that was what was best for him. It is working for him and for me it was best to get out and get some playing time. You have to do what’s best for you and find your own path to the first team, look at Nathan Ake who is doing well, there’s a lot of youth players that I played with that are doing well, and they are doing it in all different ways. It is impressive, I think.
"These lads dominated the UEFA Youth League and the FA Youth Cup, they have been in the final I don’t know how many times. Chelsea have got great, talented young players, but whose problem is making the last step, as it is a tough one.
'AC' left home at 16 when he signed for Chelsea and has spoken of how difficult it was.
"At first it was hard, you want to see your family and your friends who you left behind but after a while it became quite easy. was lucky I had a good house with other players and that helped me just concentrate on football and I stayed with a really nice family, they made me feel like it was my home, that helped me concentrate on football.
"I felt so good about being at Chelsea after making that move and it became so much easier. I was with Kevin Wright and Jacob Maddox and the family. It was walking distance from the training ground. I got my car and driving license in England but I took the train to London for fun. My family came over a lot. It meant a lot to have their support, everything fit in perfectly for me in England.
"My dad always gives me advice as he is an ex-footballer. He is my biggest supporter and biggest critic as well. He always gives advice and watches my games. As a goalkeeper, he always wanted a defender for a son to help defend his goal, that’s what he said. He always tells me stuff and I try to listen to him. I still scored past him many times when we played as a kid. [laughs]."
