Antonio Rudiger’s performances under Thomas Tuchel hailed by intermediary
The man who brokered Antonio Rudiger’s move to Chelsea has highlighted the defender’s impressive displays when handed opportunities this season.
Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard earlier this week with the club languishing in ninth spot – and has already taken his first drastic steps in overhauling his team.
Rudiger was handed a new lease of life with the change in management, since keeping two clean sheets, and his bullish representative has now taken to social media to make his point.
Antonio Rudiger’s has impressed in both of his Chelsea appearances under Thomas Tuchel
Saif Rubie took a cheeky swipe at Frank Lampard with Rudiger starring under Thomas Tuchel
Saif Rubie, who helped the German move to Stamford Bridge, re-tweeted Rudiger’s post after the 2-0 win against Burnley on Sunday and wrote: ‘How many clean sheets is that for you Rudi when you’ve started for Chelsea this season in all comps? Asking for a friend. Thanks.’
The Germany international has helped his team record seven clean sheets when starting this season across all competitions, under both Lampard and Tuchel.
His career at Chelsea looked in jeopardy, however, after reports that he had clashed with captain Cesar Azpilicueta in training ‘multiple times’.
Rudiger had fallen out of favour under the previous regime but has since kept two clean sheets
Rudiger was described as one of the most vocal players during team meetings, and a loud voice in the dressing room throughout the club’s good and bad spells.
It was even suggested team-mates were left surprised over the nature of Rudiger’s challenges, some of which may have ‘crossed the line’, during training.
The speculation was waved away by a number of Chelsea players, though, with Azpilicueta in particular insisting ‘everything is fine’.
Rudiger has kept seven clean sheets across all competitions so far when starting this season
‘With Toni, we didn’t have an issue and we have been working together for a few years,’ he said.
‘That news from outside, we’re not sure so that’s why Tammy and myself we both tweeted.
‘Everything is fine and I can say that didn’t happen. We didn’t have any issues and we don’t have. We always work together. As other players, we have sometimes our discussions, normal in football.’
Club legend Lampard was axed earlier this week due to Chelsea’s poor start to the campaign
A number of Chelsea fans turned against Rudiger after Lampard’s dismissal was confirmed
The end of Lampard’s tenure was dogged by allegations of in-fighting and a toxic atmosphere – and a section of Chelsea’s fanbase quickly turned on Rudiger after the club legend’s axing.
A number of hateful comments were left under an Instagram post from the 27-year-old, urging him to ‘get out’ and calling him ‘not good enough’.
But despite having fallen behind Kurt Zouma and summer arrival Thiago Silva earlier in the campaign, Rudiger has been a prominent face under Tuchel so far.
