MY ACCOUNT
It will be a challenge for Chelsea to keep hold of defensive rock Antonio Rudiger.
The centre-back’s contract is set to expire this summer and he has put the ball in the club’s court when it comes to a new deal.
But the Blues can ill afford to lose the Germany international, who has proved pivotal to their success under Thomas Tuchel.
Ahead of the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash with Lille tonight, we underline why Chelsea must pull out all the stops to keep hold of Rudiger at Stamford Bridge.
Tuchel transformation
Having fallen out of favour towards the end of Frank Lampard’s time in charge, Rudiger quickly became one of Tuchel’s go-to guys.
And the 28-year-old defender immediately found himself in a new role, lining up on the left of a back three rather than as the right-sided centre-half in a back four.
It proved to be a successful transition as Chelsea conceded just two goals in seven knockout games en route to winning the Champions League last season.
Rudiger was an ever-present in that run — and sported an appropriately warrior-esque mask for the last two games after injuring his cheekbone in the first leg of the semi-final against Real Madrid.
An obvious absence
A useful way of highlighting Rudiger’s importance to Chelsea is by comparing their record with and without him in the side.
Conveniently for these purposes, he played 19 Premier League games in 2020-21 and was absent for the other 19.
When Rudiger was on the pitch, Chelsea conceded 10 goals at a rate of 0.5 per game. That compares very favourably to 26 at a rate of 1.4 per game when he was not.
Of course, the change of head coach improved Chelsea’s fortunes, with 15 of the 19 matches the Berlin native missed coming under Lampard’s tenure.
But if Rudiger had been afforded more game time, the West London side’s defence may not have been as porous during the former England midfielder’s final months in charge.
Defence to attack
Rudiger has helped Chelsea to 18 clean sheets in all competitions this season — but his attacking contributions have arguably been more notable.
In the current Premier League campaign, no centre-back has had more shots than Rudiger (28) and only one has attempted more through-balls than the former Roma man (five) — a product of his energetic bursts forward and how assured he is in possession.
With three goals in all competitions so far, Rudiger has equalled the best single-season tally of his career.
Two of those strikes have come against rivals Tottenham, with one in the league and another in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
Succeeding the skipper?
It may occasionally verge on aggression — he had to be pulled away from a melee by team-mates at the end of last December’s clash with Leeds — but there can be no doubting Rudiger’s passion.
And Chelsea’s No2 has leadership qualities in abundance to go along with that intensity.
With Blues skipper Cesar Azpilicueta potentially on his way out of this summer, there is a strong case to be made that Rudiger would be captaincy material for next season.
The story continues
When asked last month about Rudiger’s future, Tuchel appeared optimistic about a resolution.
He said: “Of course we are confident. We have things to offer and he [Rudiger] is the player he is in a Chelsea shirt and in a Chelsea environment. I think he knows it very well.”
Rudiger himself was similarly positive. He said: “I’m enjoying [my time at Chelsea]. You have to see [your career] in chapters. I enjoy this chapter. So far, it’s the best part of my career.”
But both parties will need to be on the same page if they are to extend the colossal centre-back’s stay — and time is running out.
