Tuesday 19 December 2017 23:33, UK
Antonio Conte believes Andreas Christensen has the ability to replicate the achievements of John Terry at Chelsea.
Terry spent 19 years with Chelsea after graduating from the club's academy, winning five Premier League titles, five FA Cups and the Champions League.
Christensen, who spent last season on-loan at Borussia Monchengladbach, has become a permanent fixture under the former Italy manager this season, helping his side secure nine clean sheets in 21 appearances.
Conte admits he did not expect the 21-year-old to adapt to first-team Premier League football so quickly due to his age, but insists 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."
The Denmark international could be rested for Wednesday night's Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Bournemouth with Conte expected to rotate his squad ahead of a busy Christmas schedule.
