Antonio Rudiger maintains that Chelsea has changed beyond imagination in spite of leaving the team in little under a year ago.
Rudiger joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2022 after five years spent at Chelsea, and since the move, the German defender has gelled in perfectly into Carlo Ancelotti’s first eleven.
Los Blancos play Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals over the next two weeks, but the former Premier League player has sensed how much the club has changed since he exited the side.
Thomas Tuchel was booted out at the beginning of the campaign and Englishman Graham Potter who replaced him has also being fired.
This means that Frank Lampard would be manager of the club until the expiration of the campaign after he was appointed over the past week.
Chelsea have also dolled out over £600m on new signings under new owner Todd Boehly, but they have found it hard to win games this season, and they occupy the 11th spot in the Premier League table.
Rudiger says Chelsea doesn’t look like the team he played for
When questioned about the Chelsea game by Spanish media outlet Marca, Rudiger stated: “It has changed a lot and I don’t really know what to expect… It doesn’t look much like the team I played for.
“I expect quality, because they are very good players, but I don’t know what else we can find. It won’t be an easy game, but we are Real Madrid.”
The White Angels have also had a poor season by their own high standards.
They sit 12 points behind Barcelona who are first in the La Liga and they will be hoping to win the UEFA Champions League trophy to give their campaign a good lift.
In a widespread interview, the German defender stated that he knows the pressure that comes with playing at the Spanish heavyweight club, particularly due to the rich history of the side.
Rudiger indicated that the pressure starts with the trip to Real Madrid’s training ground, as well as their highly-competitive games both domestically and in the UEFA Champions League.
The defender stated: “In Madrid you have pressure even when you take the car to go to Valdebebas. But I say that as a positive, because I like to have that kind of pressure in my life, I wouldn’t want to live without it.
“Madrid is not for any player and I try to be there. I want to spend a great time here. You have to be clear about your role in the team. And I know my role.
“And I have nothing to complain about in that regard. How am I going to complain if the club has been successful like this year after year! I go out to the field and do my job.”
The German defender on the impact of fasting on his football
Antonio Rudiger was also quizzed on if his speed is affected by fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, he answered: “Not me, I’m used to it. I don’t eat or drink anything, I stick to it to the letter.
“It’s not easy, but you train, you examine the head and you end up doing it. It is one of the main weapons that I have, the mentality, and in the end complying with Ramadan is not a problem for me.”
Real Madrid after the encounter against Chelsea on Wednesday in the Champions League travel to Cadiz in the La Liga next Saturday.
They then travel to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea next week in the second leg of the clash as they jostle to reduce the points disparity between them and Barcelona in the La Liga.
