The defender has the choice of leaving Stamford Bridge in the summer, but decided to stay and has recovered his place as a core member of the squad.
Antonio Rudiger, a Chelsea defender, said he had offers from PSG and Tottenham in the fall, but that he is now struggling for a new deal under Thomas Tuchel.
Frank Lampard demoted Tuchel to fifth in the centre-back pecking order, prompting interest from Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur and Tuchel’s former club PSG.
Barcelona, Roma, and AC Milan were also involved, but the Blues wanted to retain their 28-year-old central defender. He climbed to third in the pecking order, but it was only after Frank Lampard was fired in January and replaced by Tuchel that he became a regular starter.
WHAT WAS SAID?
Rudiger acknowledged that he had the opportunity to exit Stamford Bridge, but that he remained cool and did not press his case.
“I saw some stuff coming, but I didn’t see myself not being in the squad [under Lampard].” This was something I didn’t intend to happen. Still, in the end, I just took it in stride. Yes, I had two big teams that were interested in me and that I was thinking about,” the defender said at a press conference.
“To be honest, it was PSG and Mourinho [at Tottenham].”
This, on the other hand, did not occur. It didn’t happen with Tuchel. I was a little disappointed because I knew I wouldn’t be able to play in my condition too much.
“Then I had a chat with Lampard’s ex-coach, and I was immediately back on the squad, albeit on the bench.” I had a lot of games left, so I went backwards. I was on the field for the last games of his reign. Things are now going better for me, and I am very pleased.
“However, to be honest, I really felt fine in the club.” They were really sweet to me, particularly the board members upstairs. No one urged me to resign. Frank Lampard didn’t do it, and the transfers I expected didn’t happen. The loans did not materialise, but no one at the club advised me to resign.”
WILL HE LEAVE IN THE SUMMER?
Contracts for Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, and Cesar Azpilicueta both expire in June 2022. Meanwhile, Thiago Silva has a one-year term that runs out in 2021, but both parties have the option to extend it until 2022.
Rudiger was unsure if contract talks will go ahead of a new round of talks: “At the end of the day, everybody, including me and the club, knows how much I love this club and all, but it’s up to the people who make these kinds of choices, but at the moment, my focus is on crucial matches and goals.”
“AS FOR THE REST, I’M POSITIVE WE’LL WORK IT OUT.” I STILL MENTION HOW MUCH I ENJOY IT HERE AT CHELSEA, SO THAT WILL BE MY TOP PRIORITY.”
Tuchel has expressed his views on the issue, which is exacerbated by the club’s interest in investing in new central defenders this summer.
The manager said. “
“OF COURSE, WE’RE AWARE OF THE SITUATION WITH THOSE THREE PLAYERS,”
“We’ll make the decisions and then share them as soon as they’re made. This isn’t a mystery, because it’s clear that all three have done exceptionally well. Thiago has been absent for several weeks, which is way too long, as we miss him.
BUT ANDREAS AND TONI HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB SO FAR, AND IF WE KEEP MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION, THE REST WILL FALL INTO PLACE.
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