Rüdiger excited to finally play under Mourinho at Real Madrid
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- German defender Antonio Rüdiger expressed excitement about playing under new Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho.
- Rüdiger also shared his pride in renewing his contract with Real Madrid after overcoming a difficult year with injuries.
- He discussed the quality of his German teammates and the high standards at Real Madrid, mentioning players like Mbappé, Bellingham, and Vinícius Júnior.
Antonio Rüdiger, the German international defender for Real Madrid, is eagerly anticipating the prospect of playing under newly appointed coach Jose Mourinho. "I am very excited. It will finally happen that I play under his orders," Rüdiger stated, reflecting on past conversations with the coach that never materialized. He expressed his joy at welcoming Mourinho to the team.
I am very excited. It will finally happen that I play under his orders.
Rüdiger also conveyed his pride in renewing his contract with Real Madrid. "Madrid is practically my home. I feel very good, my family feels very good there," he said, emphasizing his commitment after a challenging year marked by injuries. He successfully fought his way back to fitness and earned a new contract, never seriously considering other options.
Madrid is practically my home. I feel very good, my family feels very good there.
Reflecting on his journey, Rüdiger admitted that Real Madrid was not initially a dream he thought achievable, having been drawn to the Premier League. Winning the Champions League with Chelsea, however, made him realize such a dream could become a reality. He noted that his German national teammates often inquire about life at Real Madrid, the pressure, and the club's environment, suggesting that many possess the quality to potentially play there someday.
Winning the Champions League with Chelsea, however, made him realize such a dream could become a reality.
When discussing potential new teammates, Rüdiger welcomed the idea of good players joining the squad, specifically mentioning Nico Schlotterbeck's strong performance against Curaçao. He highlighted Schlotterbeck's offensive threat from set pieces, intensity in duels, and excellent ball-playing ability, particularly with his left foot. Rüdiger also touched upon Real Madrid's recent lack of success over the past two years but pointed to the decisive impact of star players like Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Vinícius Júnior in crucial moments, drawing a parallel to France's ability to secure a win despite not playing their best.
Good players are always welcome.
Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.