Thomas Tuchel has once again made if very clear whose decision it is that Andreas Christensen is set to leave Chelsea this summer. Whereas so often over the course of this season the futures of the Denmark international and the likes of Antonio Rudiger have been distanced to their representitives and the club, Tuchel has made this one a very personal decision.
Christensen entered the final year of his contract having revitalised his position in the Chelsea squad following Tuchel's arrival, much like Rudiger. The former Borussia Monchengladbach loanee has thrived both at the heart of a three-man defence and playing to the right of Thiago Silva, and has even stood up to be counted at right-back when required by the Blues.
It's not the first time that Tuchel has been outspoken about where Christisen's future should lie. The German coach perhaps unconvinced over the defender's reasoning for a possible departure.
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Tuchel said in his press conference on Wednesday: "The situation of the club was pretty sure. I think I gave you an honest statement that he is in exactly the right place for his journey. That he could continue with this club and become the defender that he can be, the real personality and the playing minutes figure that he wants to be.
"In my opinion, he shouldn't forget where he comes from, where his education comes from, where is home and that's just my opinion. He needs that kind of environment to bring the best out of him. That's just my opinion and I gave it some weeks ago but the talks in autumn and the summer were constant talks. We are in exchange with our players of course. I hope that my talks didn't make him want to leave but I don't think so.
"You cannot take these things personally. If he decides to take his career elsewhere, it is his decision. We understand it and we don't need to agree. We will not take it personally. As long as he is our player, he is our player and I will not stop demanding from him. He needs to be fully, fully committed, this is what we expect and have experienced. You will have to ask him about his decision and what the reasons are for his decision."
John Terry saw Christensen earning a place with the Blues, early in his Stamford Bridge career. Terry said to 'knock' him off the team, but fulfilling a role such as the former Chelsea captain's requires more than simply playing. Tuchel clearly believes Stamford Bridge is still somewhere the 25-year-old can thrive given the transformation he has had since his isolation under Lampard.
The Dane has threatened to pick up the mantel on occasion, but injury and uncertainty over his future appear to have left him just behind Silva and Rudiger in the hierarchy of Chelsea's defence. Tuchel noted his place on the bench against Brentford was purely tactical and that Chelsea will still seek to utilise him as much as they can.
There has already been talk of Barcelona agreeing a deal for Christensen, though nothing has been confirmed. Tuchel is unconcerned over his charge's commitment however, or at least does not want to be distracted by it.
He said: "No. No concerns. Maybe it is a bit more challenging for him than normal, in a moment where everything is clear or you're fully committed to the club you play for, which is us and Chelsea. Maybe he cleared his future, I don't know it yet, but for me it was very clear when I started, and the bottom line in conversations I had with him was that as long as you're my player I expect you to be 100% committed and I will not accept anything less.
"I will not start digging into how committed is he now, this only leads to distraction. This is what I demand from him. That he was out on Saturday was only a tactical choice to play with a back four. It was a matter of characteristics of the players. He is our player and we want to have the most of him. He needs to be focused, he needs to be determined, and this is what we expect from him. And I think it is what we can expect from him."
The duo's commitment to each other will only become more prominent as we enter the final months of the season. The games Christensen is available for, and the ones he is utilised in, will be a reflection of where his future lies next season and the value he can still add to the Blues this term.
A role against Real Madrid on Wednesday will be the start to see where Christensen truly remains in Tuchel's plans for the rest of the season, with Reece James' availability meaning Cesar Azpilicueta brings another challenger in the back three. Though, for both legs last season it was James on the bench and a combination of Christensen and the Blues' captain.
If the defender does leave at the end of the season, his time at Chelsea should not be tainted, though the perception of his contract negotiations may taint his tenure for some. Nevertheless he helped the Blues to a Champions League title. There remains the scope where, given his nine-year connection to the club, he could have be more than another player however.
