The forward step of Andreas Christensen

BarcelonaAndreas Christensen's spell at Barça continuing after two very discreet recent seasons is thanks to Hansi Flick. Although since the German's arrival the centre-back has been plagued by injuries and has only participated in 24 matches (of which he has only started six), the blaugrana coach is confident of recovering a defender whose quality is not in doubt.

The Dane's contract with Barça expired at the end of last season, on June 30, but if Christensen remains blaugrana and renewed on July 1 until 2028, it is because Flick trusts him. "He could have been renewed and sold, but the coach is counting on him and made that clear to him," they explain to ARA from the club's executive offices.

Unlike Ronald Araujo, whom the coach told last week that he would hardly have any playing time, Flick is determined to recover a good version of the Dane. Christensen, however, also knows that, depending on what happens in the market, the German coach's intention is to continue with the centre-back pairing that was most successful for him last season: Pau Cubarsí on the right and Gerard Martín on the left. Currently, among Deco's and Flick's priorities is not to sign a centre-back despite Araujo's loan to Liverpool. The club is relying on the Cubarsí-Gerard pairing, Christensen's contribution, Eric Garcia's versatility, and Álvaro Cortés.

The club would consider bringing in a centre-back, however, "if a market opportunity arises". This would affect Cortés's situation. The 21-year-old centre-back has convinced the coach during pre-season and he himself publicly declared his time in the reserve team over. The wish of the player from Zaragoza, as conveyed by his entourage to ARA, is to continue as a blaugrana. However, if he doesn't get a place in the first team, he has suitors both in Spanish football and in other leagues in Europe.

While Cortés's future depends on whether Barça ends up strengthening the defensive midfield or not, that is not the case for Christensen. In fact, the club is looking for a date to formalise his contract renewal, which became effective during the World Cup. The Denmark international, a national team absent during the World Cup, has worn the captain's armband in a pre-season full of youngsters until Raphinha's return. The defender will complete the entire pre-season from the start and wants to put an end to the last two years of suffering.

Christensen did accumulate many quality minutes with Xavi Hernández and was a prominent player in winning the 2022-2023 League. On the other hand, with Flick, when he hasn't been injured, he has never managed to have continuity in the last two seasons. On the other hand, when he has been available, he has played almost everything with Denmark in the international breaks.

The suffering and fear of Andreas Christensen

Christensen's first season with the German team was a ordeal: he spent almost all of it injured. After playing the last half hour of the league opener, at Mestalla, a tendinopathy in his left Achilles tendon, for which he had to undergo surgery, kept him out for more than four months. The return was not easy and injuries to the soleus, which he often suffers from, soon appeared and he could hardly play until the end of the season. In summary, he only played in six matches with Barça.

There are footballers who are more resistant or suffer less when it comes to discomfort. This is not the case for Christensen, who the soleus often bothered. However, if the Dane didn't play more for Barça when he was fit, it's not just because the warnings flashed easily. Sources consulted by this newspaper explain that there is also a psychological issue, linked to pressure management and self-confidence.

Despite having a different temperament to Araujo – the Dane is much more introverted – both share a high level of anxiety about the fear of making mistakes. They performed at a very high level in the 2022-23 campaign, but neither has found consistency with Flick. Last season, the Uruguayan asked to stop due to a bout of anxiety and will now play on loan at Liverpool. Christensen has not reached the extreme of having to stop, but several people who work or have worked with him agree that he has magnificent virtues – speed, positioning, reading of the game, aerial play, ball-playing ability, anticipation – but that the insecurities derived from the fear of making mistakes condition him. In fact, the stress derived from pressure also physically impacts the athlete.

Last season, he asked to stop due to a bout of anxiety and will now play on loan at Liverpool. Christensen has not reached the extreme of having to stop, but several people who work or have worked with him agree that he has magnificent virtues – speed, positioning, reading of the game, aerial play, ball-playing ability, anticipation – but that the insecurities derived from the fear of making mistakes condition him. In fact, the stress derived from pressure also physically impacts the athlete.

Last season, Flick used him as a starter in three of the first nine league matchdays, but the hell of injuries would return. In mid-December, he suffered a serious injury in training. A partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee hampered him for the entire season. Bad luck was once again being cruel to Christensen. Now, in his fifth season at Barça and with Flick's renewed confidence, he wants to prove his level again.