Andreas Christensen knows he must turn the tables on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang tonight after finishing a loser on all four occasions he has faced the Arsenal striker.
Along with David Luiz, Christensen will be asked to shackle Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette as Chelsea seek to end a turbulent season on a high note by winning the Europa League.
Christensen is well aware of the challenge that lies ahead in Baku, having come up against Aubameyang when on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach while the 29-year-old was at Borussia Dortmund.
This season, Aubameyang has 31 goals, with Lacazette scoring 19, and Christensen told Standard Sport: “We know how big a test it is going to be having faced those two forwards in the League. It is going to be tough. We are going to have to be clever and think quickly on our feet.
“I played against Aubameyang a few times in the Bundesliga. I don’t think I have a great record against him from that time.
“The two of them have a bit of trickery and speed up front. They have got a little bit of everything, we have to be careful. But we believe in ourselves.”
It won’t be easy for the Blues. The task was already a hard one, but now there are doubts N’Golo Kante will be able to offer protection in front of the back four due to a knee injury.
But at least Christensen has plenty of experience at the highest level, having played in the Champions League for Chelsea and the World Cup for Denmark.He has stepped up well since Antonio Rudiger’s injury and has appeared in all 12 of Chelsea’s Europa League matches.
He added: “I have played in a lot of matches, but I’m still only 23, so it is always important to have an experienced guy like David Luiz on the pitch next to me.
“It makes a difference. The way he demands things of people is great for the team and very important for our level to be high.
“It’s definitely a big help having him next to me because I can hear him. He is very loud!
“He is demanding things of people and that helps us raise our standard.”
