Real Madrid defender Antonio recently shared his thoughts in an interview with The Inside Scoop (h/t AS), expressing admiration for a rising talent from Barcelona, namely, Lamine Yamal.
He also touched upon various subjects, including his time at Chelsea, his move to Real Madrid, and some of the notable players he has encountered during his career.
Rudiger began by reflecting on his departure from Chelsea, where he experienced a period without communication with the club, despite performing well on the pitch.
He noted that he was fully focused on his game, not worrying about potential injuries. Winning the Champions League with Chelsea opened doors for him, and he realized that such an achievement could be a pathway to one of the world’s biggest clubs.
“There was a time when there was no conversation with them and I was still playing at my best week in and week out.” he began by saying.
“I didn’t think about whether I was going to get injured or not. I was great at Chelsea, but I also knew that the Champions League I won could be my ticket to the biggest club in the world.”
The transition to Real Madrid felt surreal for him. Initially, he had envisioned a career in the Premier League, and the opportunity to play for Madrid came as a surprise.
“Real Madrid don’t usually come knocking on your door. I felt I was ready for that step.
“It was surreal. I couldn’t believe it. My dream was to play in the Premier League, I didn’t think it could happen… It’s crazy.”
Kroos and best defender
In discussing the impact of Toni Kroos’ departure from the club, Rudiger acknowledged it as a significant change for the team.
“Toni’s departure is a big change,” he admitted.
When reflecting on his skills as a defender, Rudiger humbly mentioned that it is up to others to evaluate his abilities. He respects legendary defenders like Sergio Ramos, Pepe, and Thiago Silva.
“I look at people like Ramos, Pepe, Thiago Silva… Those people were world-class for me. If people think I’m like them, I’m not going to contradict them.”
Mbappe, Benzema and Aguero
The conversation then shifted to Kylian Mbappe, where Rudiger praised the French superstar’s maturity and intelligence on the pitch.
He highlighted Mbappe’s impressive ability to score and influence games, especially in his connections with teammates.
“You hear a lot about Mbappe that he was going to change the dressing room, things like that. He is very mature and very intelligent. He is doing his job.
He scores goals, he influences the game and the way he connects with Rodrygo, Vini and even Jude is getting better and better. He will write his own story. He is already working on it.”
When discussing the players he admires, Rudiger pointed to Karim Benzema as the best he has played with. He described Benzema as a phenomenal striker, noting his exceptional intelligence and talent.
“Benzema. I could say many: Modric, Hazard, Kroos… But I have to say Benzema. He was a crazy striker. His intelligence. He was world-class.”
Reflecting on opponents, Rudiger mentioned that playing against Sergio Aguero presented significant challenges.
“Aguero gave me a lot of headaches. It was really difficult to play against him. I would say Messi or Cristiano, but they seem to me to be from a different planet. We are left with human beings.”
Haaland, Hazard and Bellingham
Discussing Erling Haaland, Rudiger characterized him as a formidable opponent. He acknowledged Haaland’s incredible power and prowess on the field, stating that defending against him requires physical readiness and vigilance to avoid leaving space.
“I think I’m an old-school defender who loves to fight with strikers like him. That guy is a beast. I don’t know what he eats or what he does, but he’s… Wow.
“When I watch his goals you know that if the cross goes high to the far post you can’t beat him. He’s a beast. Crazy. He didn’t score against us and all that, but he hit the crossbar. It’s difficult to prepare yourself,” he explained.
He humorously noted that while he believes he can match Haaland physically, he recognizes that few can rival the Norwegian’s capabilities.
“You have to be ready for the physical battle and not leave too much space behind you because he’s dangerous there too. If you run with him, it can be difficult. When he puts his arm out.
“Few people can match him physically. The only person I’ve seen who can match him is Virgil Van Dijk and Saliba. Well, I did my job.”
Rudiger also shared his experiences during training, singling out Eden Hazard for his extraordinary skills. He reminisced about Hazard’s brilliance during his time at Chelsea, describing it as something extraordinary.
“Hazard. The things he did you can’t imagine. Eden at Chelsea was something different.”
Finally, Rudiger spoke about Jude Bellingham, who has made a significant impact since joining Real Madrid. He expressed surprise at Bellingham’s immediate influence at such a prestigious club, attributing it to the right timing and supportive family.
“To be honest, coming to this kind of club and having so much influence, I didn’t expect it. He didn’t expect it either. I think that when God sets his time, no one can stop him. He was at the right time,” he said.
Rudiger noted the warmth of Bellingham’s mother, whom he met during a challenging time for her son, highlighting the importance of strong family support in a young player’s career.
“Plus, he has great parents. I’ve met his mother at the Sports City and have spoken a couple of times. I met her when she was at Chelsea going through a difficult time.
“She was eating and I went over to where they were to say hello. Jude told me that I left him with a great memory because I was the only one who went to say hello that day. His mother seems strong, loving, but tough,” he concluded.