Tuchel hopes for Christensen stay while injuries persist for James
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is hoping that defender Andreas Christensen commits to the club, saying now is the time for him to "step up".
Image credit: PA Images Tuchel is hoping to secure Christensen's service beyond this seasonThe Danish international, who graduated from the Chelsea Academy, last started for the side on February 19 and could potentially leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Reports suggest that Barcelona are sniffing around the 25-year-old.
Speaking ahead of the Blues’ Premier League game against Norwich City on Thursday evening, the Chelsea boss also expressed concerns about the injury sustained by Reece James last weekend.
On Christensen, he said, "I think it's a crucial point in his Chelsea career at the moment.
"I think it's a crucial point where he has the chance, at the perfect age and the perfect moment, regarding the situation, the system we play, the guys who play at his side.
"Considering all these circumstances, it's for me, the decisive moment for him to step up and be a huge Chelsea player for the next years.
"If he decides otherwise I will not take it personally and it's - in the end - not important if I understand it or not.
"But I will treat him as my player until the very last day, if he behaves how he has behaved."
James sustained an injury to a muscle in Chelsea’s 4-0 defeat of Burnley on Saturday, which was described as a huge "setback" as he had only just returned from a hamstring tear.
Tuchel said more tests are required to determine the severity of the problem, but hopes that James will make a swift comeback to the first-team side.
"Reece James has a muscular problem after his last three matches," Tuchel confirmed.
"It's not his previously injured leg, the other leg.
"But still we need examination. We thought he could be maybe on the pitch today but he couldn't. So we need further examinations to see what's going on.
"He felt it during the match at Burnley, so that's why we took him out and it didn't get better.
"So we are worried, but still we need some more details and some more information.
"It was obvious what he gives to our team and can give to our team. So it's not good news at the moment. "It's a setback for sure, but I hope not a big one."