Christensen finds lack of game time 'very hard' at Chelsea

Andreas Christensen has admitted he is finding his lack of playing time at Chelsea this season 'hard' - but has no plans to leave the club in January.

The Danish centre back was named the Blues' young player of the year last season after what appeared to be a breakthrough year in which he made 27 league appearances.

However the switch two a back four under new manager Maurizio Sarri has squeezed Christensen out, with Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz as the current preferred centre back pairing.

The 22-year-old told Danish football website Bold: 'Right now, it's not a good season for me, but I have to find some way to get back on. How? I do not know, but it's up to myself to figure out.

'But right now it looks hard. We have good results and we play super good football, which only makes it harder. It's hard for me personally, but for the team it looks great.'

The lack of game time has led to speculation that he could join the ranks of Chelsea players currently out on loan, but Christensen is currently ready to fight for his place.

On the idea of a loan, Christensen said: 'I do not know. I have not thought so, so I do not want to comment on that.'

As well as playing a major part for Antonio Conte last season, Christensen was also part of the Denmark squad which reached the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup, losing to eventual finalists Croatia on penalties.

However, so far this season, he has not played in the Premier League. Christensen has started three games in 2018/19 - both of Chelsea's Europa League fixtures, and he played 73 minutes of the Carabao Cup win over Liverpool.