Andreas Christensen has admitted feeling a sense of frustration after gaining limited Chelsea opportunities under manager Maurizio Sarri so far this season.
The Denmark defender was a Premier League regular during the reign of Sarri’s Stamford Bridge predecessor Antonio Conte.
But his Chelsea game time this term has been restricted exclusively to the Europa League and Carabao Cup.
Christensen’s father Sten, who is also his agent, last month suggested a move from Chelsea will be pursued in the January transfer window if he is not given more first-team chances.
“It has been difficult,” said 22-year-old Christensen, who is currently with the Denmark squad preparing for Friday’s Nations League clash with Wales in Cardiff.
“If you ask any player, they want to play. I am the same, and I love football.
“Not playing is frustrating. I can’t do anything about it other than train hard and when I get the chance to play, do my best.
“I have been trying to take my opportunities in the games I get and I’ve been trying to show what I can do. It is one game at a time for me.
“At the moment we have a lot of cup games at Chelsea, and in the last three or four weeks I’ve actually played every week, but not in the games I’ve wanted to play in.
“I have made sure I am ready for whenever I’m needed, but I want to be in the starting XI every time and that’s the frustrating part. I’ve been lucky in a sense because I’ve had some games and not zero.
“At the moment at Chelsea we are winning and we are playing well, so there is no reason to change the team. I have to do my best in training and work hard, even though it’s a difficult situation.”
Christensen spent two successful seasons on loan with German club Borussia Monchengladbach from 2015 to 2017, but his father ruled out another loan move when speaking to Danish television.
Asked if he fancied a further loan switch, Christensen said: “No, not yet.
“In football, things can change very quickly, and I know that.
“I wasn’t starting at the beginning of last season, but then suddenly there were a few injuries and a couple of red cards and then I was playing every week. It can change very quickly, so I won’t make any decisions straightaway.”