November 10
Fears of a New Setback
Andreas Christensen returned to action last Sunday against Atlético Madrid, playing 30 minutes in the La Liga match at the Metropolitano Stadium. This marked his comeback following a muscle injury—specifically to the rectus femoris in his left thigh—which had sidelined him for over a month and a half.
The 30-year-old Danish defender, who has struggled with recurring injuries over the past few seasons—frequently limiting his playing time—chose not to take any risks. Consequently, he decided to withdraw from his national team’s squad for the current international break—a decision he made reluctantly, according to the Denmark head coach.
Brian Riemer, the Denmark manager, told the publication *Tipsbladet*: "He felt he wasn't ready, so he had to withdraw. Given his current physical condition, he doesn't feel prepared to play in international matches."
The coach emphasized that the decision was made by Christensen alone and was reached with great reluctance, adding: "He loves the Danish national team. When I spoke to him on the phone last night, he sounded like he was on the verge of tears; he is incredibly frustrated and upset by the whole situation." Although the decision came from the Barcelona defender himself, the Denmark national team coach understands his position. He believes that his return to action must be gradual to ensure his well-being, stating: "Even if he could sit on the bench and play for five minutes, he still has a long way to go before he is capable of playing a full 90 minutes and competing at the highest level."
In any case, Riemer hopes to be able to count on Andreas Christensen during the upcoming international break, emphasizing that his history of injuries does not mean he is being ruled out of future plans, adding: "We are just as keen for him to be ready by March."
Frustration over injuries
So far this season, the experienced Barcelona defender—who extended his contract by two additional years just a few months ago—has already missed seven matches due to injury.
Last season, he missed 36 matches for both Denmark and Barcelona due to various injuries and physical issues, including a torn cruciate ligament.
Furthermore, throughout the 2024-2025 season, Christensen has been unavailable for 50 matches due to problems with his Achilles tendon and a persistent muscular injury.
