Andreas Christensen reacts to opening his Chelsea account

Defender Andreas Christensen has netted his first Chelsea goal in his 137th appearance for the club in the dominating victory over Malmo. The Chelsea Academy graduate scored the opener in the 4-0 win against Malmo in the Champions League. He volleyed home Thiago Silva’s cross in the ninth minute. Later, goals from Jorginho (two) and Kai Havertz secured a big European triumph for the Blues. Almost a decade has passed since the Dane arrived at Cobham aged just 16. After netting his first goal in Chelsea blue to become the 14th different scorer of the season, he opened up about the “proud moment” of scoring in front of the Shed End.

“It was a proud moment, a big moment,” Christensen was quoted as saying by the club’s website. “I have waited nine years for this and now it has happened. It was a very nice moment for me personally, but it wouldn’t have been worth it if we didn’t win, so that’s the most pleasing. I am very happy for my goal. Hopefully it doesn’t take that long again to add a second!”

‘I think we showed quality’

The Danish international also has 42 clean sheets to his name in his last 52 competitive appearances for club and country. He started in central defence alongside Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger. The trio were impressive on the night, limiting Malmo to just two shots, with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy not having to make a single save.

“It was very important for us to do things right today, staying in the group and it was a big step for us,” Christensen added. “I know a few of the [Malmo] players, and I know they have quality. They have a certain way of playing and we know that, we tried to expose that today.

“We know how they are used to not having the ball all the time and they have the quality to do it. I think we showed quality today. Overall it was a good game from us and it was important just to do things right for the whole game.”

Havertz: I had one choice for my goal

When Romelu Lukaku was forced off with an injury in the Champions League clash, it opened the way for Kai Havertz to make a scoring return to the pitch. “You always have to be ready even though you sit for 20 minutes,” said the 22-year-old who netted the third goal in the 4-0 win.

“It’s always tough to come in but I try to do my best and it was a good goal. Callum did a good assist, the ball was very far but I could get to it and I knew that the goalkeeper would go down, so I think the only choice I had was to tip it over the keeper. For us it’s a very good result. To score four goals is always good. It gives a lot of confidence.”

It was not just Lukaku, even Timo Werner has become the latest casualty to join the injury list. As a result, the chances to play in the attack may increase for Havertz in the coming matches, beginning with Norwich this weekend at home.

“We have to just keep on going, recover well, we need to refresh for Saturday,” he said. “Whether it is the Champions League or Premier League, we don’t care. We want to win games. That’s also the ambition for Saturday.”