‘NOT THE FIRST TIME’ CHRISTENSEN’S MADE LATE DROP-OUT CALL

ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN’S FA Cup final absence was not the first time he had pulled out of a game at the last minute.

Chelsea players were left stunned after the Danish defender declared himself unavailable on the morning of the showpiece which disrupted Thomas Tuchel’s plans. Christensen, 26, is leaving when his contract expires at the end of the season and set to join Barcelona – and Tuchel suggested he has now played his last game for the club.

The Blues boss publicly confirmed Christensen dropped out of the final but maintained the centre-half was physically ready to play.

“It was not the first time, as you can see over the last weeks, we had the same situations,” said Tuchel.

“Andreas came in the morning of the match to inform me. He told me he was not ready to play the match, to start or be on the bench. He had his reasons. They stay private and confidential.

“We had to accept it and will accept it. I try the best I can not to take things personal and I still believe

Andreas wanted to play these kinds of matches. I still believe he could, in terms of potential and what he gives to the team. That’s why he was a key player for us.

“He struggled over the last weeks, as you can see when he was not in the squad or not playing, although he was physically available and not injured.

“That was not completely out of the blue. That’s why it was, yeah, not the ideal scenario for us.

“I don’t think he does not want to play – he was not able to play. It’s a big difference. We’ve had more than this conversation, but on Saturday morning he finally told me.”

Christensen (above) has made it clear he wanted to face Liverpool at Wembley but had been unwell in the previous week despite playing at Leeds three days earlier.

Chelsea end the season with two home matches, against Leicester tonight and Watford on Sunday, and Tuchel hinted he cannot rely on Christensen’s availability.

He added: “It was very short notice before the Cup final, and not only before this match. There’s no chance I can predict before tomorrow or the weekend.”