Chelsea’s backline looks great, to say the least. Clean sheets, confident defending, limitless commitment – it all adds up to the Blues holding the summit in the Premier League and at their Champions League group. Thomas Tuchel gave a massive boost to all the defenders who lost their way during the last days of Frank Lampard in the dugouts.Edouard Mendy is proving to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Trevoh Chalobah has shown his incredible potential, Cesar Azpilicueta is a captain to wish for and Thiago Silva is reliving his AC Milan glory days at Stamford Bridge. However, two names that bring even a broader smile to Chelsea fans’ faces are Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.The German with Sierra Leone roots is one of the best stoppers in the world at the moment while the big Dane is resurrecting under Tuchel and is more confident than ever. What turn those smiles to worries is the fact these two are frighteningly close to the end of their Chelsea contracts.There is confidence that the Thiago Silva wants to remain at Chelsea until at least the 2022 World Cup.Chelsea also expect Cesar Azpilicueta to sign a new contract.But there are ‘more than a few creases to iron out’ for Christensen and Rudiger.- @NizaarKinsella pic.twitter.com/8I3ONj6Cae— Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) November 22, 2021 Former Blues right-back Glen Johnson, the first signing of the Abramovich era at Chelsea, has urged the club not to let the duo leave the club for nothing at the end of the season.Both played in May’s Champions League final win over Manchester City and unless they can be tied down to new deals – Chelsea are facing the real prospect of losing them.‘From a business standpoint, it would be a disaster,’ Johnson told Betting Odds.‘Whether the club wants them both there long term is irrelevant because to replace those two players you’re going to have to spend an absolute fortune.‘Even to give them both a year long deal with the intention of selling them after six months would make more sense than letting them walk out on a free.‘It would be terrible business regardless of whether the club fancies them as players or not.’Major names are showing interest – in Rudiger especially. Among those names Bayern Munich stand out, offering to double his 6.5 million USD annual salary.I have to admit that it would hurt if we let Antonio Rudiger go, I want him & Andreas Christensen to both stay. Rudiger for me has shown what a classy defender he is & is playing his best football at the moment. pic.twitter.com/A6mrziQbfQ— Frank Khalid (@FrankKhalidUK) November 18, 2021 No wonder he is a wanted man. His manager and countryman spared no praises for Rudiger.’He’s been outstanding from the first day to now.’, said Tuchel after their empathic win over Leicester City.’I hope it stays like this. Defensively we are strong as usual and they deserve the praise for it. They do a lot of invisible work, they protect each other, support and are brave in attacking. We want to be dangerous from set-pieces.’Everybody wants him to stay, it’s clear but sometimes there is a delay in these things and there is obviously a delay. He knows what he has here, a fantastic club, fantastic league. He’s a competitor.’We’ll have a bit of patience and hopefully a happy end.’Sun, 19.30: (1.65) CHELSEA (3.90) MAN UNITED (6.00)As far as Christensen is concerned – Tuchel is desperate to keep the Dane and the club are still confident of ironing out any issues to get a new contract signed.Christensen contends for the third and final spot in the centre-defenders-line against Chalobah and the versatile Azpilicueta as Rudiger and Thiago Silva are regulars in Chelsea’s back three.
