Chelsea Legend Antonio Rudiger Opens Up About Desire to Leave After Being Sidelined by Frank Lampard
Antonio Rudiger, a Chelsea legend, recently revealed that he had a strong desire to leave the club after unexpectedly being exiled from the first-team by former manager Frank Lampard. The defender, who spent five successful years at Stamford Bridge, eventually joined Real Madrid on a free transfer.
During his time at Chelsea, Rudiger made 203 appearances and played a crucial role in the team’s victories in the Champions League, FA Cup, Europa League, and Club World Cup. However, towards the end of Lampard’s tenure, Rudiger found himself on the fringes of the team and rarely featured in the first half of the 2020/21 season.
Reflecting on his time under Lampard, Rudiger admitted that he wanted to leave Chelsea but couldn’t pinpoint exactly what led to his exclusion. He acknowledged that football can be unpredictable and that Lampard may have had different ideas or preferred other players. However, Rudiger believes that he proved himself on the pitch and gave a perfect response to the situation.
When asked if he or any other Chelsea stars had played against Lampard during that time, Rudiger denied any such claims. He stated that he had never experienced a situation like that throughout his career and even played under Lampard again towards the end of his tenure.
Interestingly, Rudiger revealed that he was eager to sign for Thomas Tuchel’s Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in January 2021. However, fate intervened as Tuchel replaced Lampard at Chelsea just a month later. The defender admits that he really wanted to leave Chelsea at that time but fate had other plans. Six months later, Rudiger and Tuchel celebrated a Champions League victory together, highlighting the twists and turns of football.
Rudiger believes that he fit better with Tuchel’s idea of football and that the manager had a positive opinion of him both as a player and as a person. He admired Tuchel’s tactical understanding and appreciated his honest manner. Their successful collaboration demonstrates the importance of finding the right fit in football.
As Rudiger’s revelations come to light, it offers fans an insight into the complexities of player-manager relationships and the ever-changing dynamics within a football club. While his desire to leave Chelsea was strong, fate intervened, and Rudiger found success under Tuchel’s guidance. Football truly is a sport where anything can happen.
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