Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says defender Andreas Christensen has the potential to replicate the success of John Terry at Chelsea.

Terry spent 19 glittering years with Chelsea after graduating from the club’s academy, winning five Premier League titles, five FA Cups and the Champions League.

Christensen is one of the highest rated young centre-backs in the world, and has managed to become a regular in Conte’s side despite its healthy central defensive options.

And Conte admits he did not expect the 21-year-old to adapt to first-team Premier League football so quickly, but says he believes he has the potential to go down in the club’s history.

“This is a big comparison – John Terry wrote the history of this club and won a lot,” Conte said.

“I wish Christensen to have the same career as John. I think he has the right characteristics to play for this club for many years, to become an important player for this team, for this club.

“Christensen is maybe the best surprise from the start of this season, despite his young age.

“He’s been the best surprise for me, for the club, for his team-mates, for the fans. Every time I decided to give him the opportunity to play, he played with an amazing performance. These performances convinced me that Christensen has to play with regularity.”
[Quotes via Sky Sports]