Chelsea's German defender Antonio Rudiger in action. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Speaking to German outlet Sport 1 (h/t Evening Standard), Chelsea centre-back Antonio Rudiger showered praise on head coach Thomas Tuchel, calling him a football expert after the German boss led the Blues to their first-ever FIFA Club World Cup title.
The Stamford Bridge side edged out South American champions Palmeiras 2-1 in extra time, courtesy of a Kai Havertz penalty in the final few minutes of the game. With this win, Chelsea have won all the trophies available to them at club level in senior English football.
Rudiger credited Tuchel for the win and referred to keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s form as a prime example of the improvements the head coach had brought into the squad since taking over from Frank Lampard last year.
“With his style, he takes the whole team with him and doesn’t forget anyone. You just have to look at the performance of our actual second goalkeeper, Kepa, in the semifinals, for example.”
In the space of a year, Rudiger and Tuchel have led Chelsea to a Champions League, Super Cup, and Club World Cup title. Another trophy in the form of the Carabao Cup awaits the Blues later this month, and the German pair will be keen to add more trophies to their cabinet this season.
The Chelsea defender has benefitted massively from Tuchel’s arrival, with Rudiger growing into one of the league’s finest centre-backs. This season has been the 28-year-old’s best yet in a Chelsea shirt, as the defender enters the prime years of his career.
The former Roma man hailed Tuchel as a football expert, crediting the manager for turning the team’s fortunes around since he took charge and shaping them to be world-beaters.
“He’s an absolute football expert who knows exactly what he expects from us on the pitch, and I think you can tell by looking at us.”
Rudiger’s form on the pitch has been exceptional, which has made him one of Tuchel’s key defenders this season. The player has hardly missed a game for Chelsea in the current campaign and has been ever-reliable in leading the rearguard against Premier League attackers.
However, it is Rudiger’s off-field issues that will concern Tuchel and Chelsea fans, with the defender yet to agree on a new deal with the club. Into the final few months of his Blues contract, the player could leave for free in the summer if Chelsea do not convince him to stay for a few more years, with PSG and Real Madrid already linked with him.
Tuchel will hope that the club hierarchy does their job quickly, so he can hold on to arguably his best defender for a couple more seasons. Such is Rudiger’s importance in this Chelsea team, with his consistency and quality proving to be key reasons for Chelsea’s title triumphs of late.
Our head coach will be desperate to win a few more trophies this year, in order to convince Rudiger to stay at a club that is still greedy for glory. Having already won the FIFA Club World Cup this season, Tuchel will be aiming for the Carabao Cup next, with a chance to win the FA Cup and Champions League still possible by the end of the campaign.
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