I have found the new JT, says Conte
ANTONIO CONTe is backing Andreas Christensen to emulate Chelsea legend John Terry.
Following two seasons on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach, the 21-year- old has established himself as a regular in the Chelsea starting XI.
Christensen, who is in line for an improved contract, has been tipped to become a mainstay of Chelsea’s defence for years to come.
Former captain Terry brought the curtain down on his glittering Stamford Bridge career at the end of last season after a trophy-laden 23-year spell in west London.
Christensen’s impact this season has certainly surprised Conte but the boss believes the Denmark international could become a Chelsea great.
‘This is a big comparison (with Terry),’ said Conte. ‘Don’t forget, John Terry wrote the history of this club and won a lot.
‘But I think (Christensen) has the right characteristics to play for this club for many years, to become an important player for this team, for this club.
‘ I wish Christensen to have the same career as John. I think Chelsea have found a player who can have the same career as some of the best defenders here.’
The Italian said Christensen could be a future captain, adding: ‘When you start to play for a great club like Chelsea, for sure the future is yours.
‘He’s a serious person, always committed in training sessions. He doesn’t speak a lot. He prefers facts to words. I can predict a fantastic career for him.’
Christensen has started 11 of Chelsea’s Premier League games this season, playing regularly in the centre of their three-man defence and putting himself in line for a new deal.
Conte said: ‘This is for the club to find the right solution, but the player is very happy to stay with us and play with this regularly.’
By contrast, Michy Batshuayi’s future at the club is in doubt.
The Belgium striker will start tonight’s Carabao Cup quarterfinal against Bournemouth, with Conte set to field an understrength side.
But Batshuayi, 24, has been overlooked over the past fortnight, with eden Hazard used as a central striker while Alvaro Morata was out with a back problem.
‘In every game I have to make the best decision for the team,’ said Conte. ‘Against Huddersfield we won 3-1 and I think I made the best decision to start with Hazard, Pedro and Willian. It was the same against Southampton. every game I’ve played Hazard, Pedro and Willian together, we’ve won. Last season and this season.
‘He (Batshuayi) has to show me that he’s better than Morata, or than Hazard. It’s very simple.
‘Michy is a young player. He has to work very hard to improve himself. But he’s doing this. I’m happy with his behaviour and his commitment. But I have to make the best decision for the team.’
Danny Drinkwater, Willy Caballero and Davide Zappacosta should start tonight.
Meanwhile, Nathan Ake says he has nothing to prove to Conte despite Chelsea’s decision to offload him in the summer. Ake, 22, had been seen as a rising star at Stamford Bridge but was sold to Bournemouth for £20million. ‘I’ve got nothing to prove, I don’t go there to prove myself,’ said Ake (left). ‘It’s just a game, a big game for us. We want to go to the semi-final and that’s what I want to think about, not about other things.’
Tonight will be Ake’s first return to Stamford Bridge since his summer move, but the Holland defender says his former club have barely crossed his mind.
He makes no special effort to watch Chelsea’s games and his only regular contact in the current squad is fellow academy graduate Christensen, but he admitted: ‘I had a good time at Chelsea, so it will be good to be back at the Bridge.’
Bournemouth have never reached the League Cup semifinals and Ake and his teammates are more driven by the chance to make history, as well as erasing the memory of Sunday’s 4-0 home defeat by Liverpool.
‘I’ve watched a bit of Chelsea, but I watch a lot of football, not only Chelsea,’ he said.
‘They’re a very good side, with very good players, the same as Liverpool — the front players are really dangerous.
‘So it will be tough for us but mentally we need to prepare again and try to win the game.’
Bournemouth manager eddie Howe is welcoming tonight’s game as a chance to take minds off his team’s Premier League relegation battle.
And Ake believes a change of competition can bring a change of fortunes, adding: ‘It will be a good chance to turn this around.’