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.
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.
‘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.
‘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.’