Former Chelsea defender Antonio Rüdiger recently expressed his deep respect for Thomas Tuchel in an interview with GOAL. The German pair worked together at Chelsea in 2021 and much of 2022.
Tuchel took over the reins at Chelsea in January 2021, effectively rejuvenating Rudiger’s career. Reflecting on his frustrations before Tuchel’s arrival, Rudiger revealed:
“I wanted to leave. I had my heart set on joining PSG with Thomas Tuchel; that was my desire. However, things didn’t align, and six months later, Tuchel arrived at Chelsea from PSG. Then, we went on to win the Champions League together.”
He further emphasized:
“It felt like fate. I’ve had the privilege of working with many excellent coaches, but if I had to choose one right now, it would be Thomas Tuchel. Our rapport was exceptional. His straightforward approach resonated with me. I thrived in his football philosophy, and he valued me greatly as both a player and a person.”
Touching upon his childhood dream of playing for Real Madrid, Rudiger remarked: “Playing for Madrid was a dream of mine, although I never seriously entertained the idea of it becoming a reality.
The Premier League was always my primary objective. Having had the opportunity to feature in the Premier League for esteemed clubs like Chelsea and then Real Madrid is a testament to the hard work I’ve put in over the years.”
Rudiger made the switch to Real Madrid in 2022 after his contract with Chelsea expired.
