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Football London
Football London
Sport
Adam Newson

Four things we spotted in Chelsea training – Christensen concern, battle of the sixes continues

There's been no time for Chelsea's players to savour their Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday evening.

The first-team squad arrived back from Budapest in the early hours of Wednesday morning and were, understandably, given the rest of the day off to recover.

Thomas Tuchel and his players reconvened at Cobham yesterday and the preparation for this Sunday's game against Manchester United began.

Another training session was held this morning, although the majority of the work done was not focused on this weekend's opponents. Tuchel confirmed that will begin in earnest tomorrow.

"We are very aware today was not a day where we focused absolutely [on Manchester United]," the Blues head coach told the media this afternoon.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel compares Cavani and Giroud

"Today was the day to bring the group together to train on the pitch. From tomorrow we will be totally focused on this game."

Barring Thiago Silva, who undertook an individual session as he continues to recover from a thigh injury, the entire Chelsea squad trained this morning.

And we have combed through the photographs taken of that session and picked out the talking points.

What's that on your knee, Andreas?

Olivier Giroud and Andreas Christensen in Chelsea training (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Look beyond Olivier Giroud – who somehow still manages to look suave in leggings – and you will spot Andreas Christensen watching the Frenchman intently.

It's likely your eye will be drawn to the defender's left knee, which has been well strapped up by the Blues medical team.

So is there a reason for concern ahead of the game with Manchester United? Probably not.

Christensen's fitness wasn't raised as an issue by Thomas Tuchel in his pre-match press conference and that's important given the Dane should feature in the heart of the back three with Thiago Silva not yet ready to return from injury.

Battle of the sixes continues

Billy Gilmour and Jorginho battle for the ball in Chelsea training (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Billy Gilmour has a bright future at Chelsea. There is no doubt about that. But as things stand, he is currently the Blues' fourth-choice centre midfielder.

“As a player, he has a lot of qualities," Tuchel said earlier this month. "He is very self-confident in our training games, is very strong on the ball, is a very strong passer, and is very smart in finding positions.

“The other three players are [Mateo] Kovacic, Jorginho, and N’Golo Kante. That means it’s not easy for Billy to find his place. He’s the number four midfielder right now in my head for the two positions. That is a pretty good start for Billy.”

Gilmour will hope to change his status in the Chelsea midfield pecking order in the weeks and months to come. Going up against one of his midfield rivals in Jorginho is one way to help do that.

The wizard searches for his magic

Hakim Ziyech trains ahead of Chelsea's game with Manchester United (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Tuchel's appointment has been transformative for several members of the Chelsea first-team squad. Ziyech is no different in that respect.

Yet while the likes of Cesar Azpiliicueta, Antonio Rudiger, Jorginho, and Callum Hudson-Odoi's first-team involved has increased under Tuchel, Ziyech's has declined.

The 27-year-old has featured just four times under Chelsea's new head coach and of those appearances, only two have been starts.

Ziyech, nicknamed The Wizard during his time with Ajax, has lost a touch of his magic in the past month. He will hope to rediscover it in the weeks ahead.

Anjorin continues to push

Andreas Christensen, Kai Havertz and Tino Anjorin in Chelsea training (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Tino Anjorin has been a constant in the first-team squad for several months now, but his game time has been restricted thus far.

The 19-year-old has played just once under Tuchel, a substitute appearance in the FA Cup fifth-round win against Barnsley.

Anjorin looked sharp when introduced at Oakwell and will hope to be afforded further senior minutes as the campaign progresses.

That he is comfortable among the host of star names at Chelsea highlights the talent and, just equally as important, the personality possessed by the young midfielder.

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