Real Madrid’s Rüdiger: “I wanted to go to PSG with Tuchel”

Antonio Rüdiger has become a fundamental piece in Ancelotti’s Real Madrid. The centre-back is now one of the best in the world and the Madrisdistas hope that he can play this week against Sevilla (KO Sunday 25 February 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT.), as his absence is being felt heavily by the team from the capital.

The German, in an interview with Goal, said that he could never have imagined playing for Real Madrid: “I dreamed of playing for Madrid, but it was never in my head to be able to do it. For me, the Premier League was the ultimate goal. I definitely wanted to play in the Premier League, having played for important clubs like Chelsea, and also for Real Madrid, it is a privilege for all the hard work I have done over the years”.

‘I really wanted to leave... that was my wish’

The centre-back says that during his time with Lampard at Chelsea he wanted to leave: “I really wanted to leave. I wanted to leave. I wanted to go to PSG with Thomas Tuchel, that was my wish. But it didn’t happen and six months later Tuchel came to Chelsea from PSG. Then we won the Champions League together. That’s probably how it should be.”

The German has fond memories of Tuchel: “I had many good coaches. If I had to choose one right now, it would be Thomas Tuchel. I got on particularly well with him. His honest nature suited me. I fitted in better with his idea of football and he also appreciated me a lot as a person.”

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‘Ronaldo was an inspiration for me’

The Real Madrid defender also had very good things to say for Ancelotti: “I must say that all Italians are really very demanding. But Carlo Ancelotti is really very calm. With Carlo we all go in the same direction, and that’s exactly how it works perfectly”.

As well as the manager, Rüdiger mentioned his first memories of being at Madrid. “What will always remain in my memory is the 2002 Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen; that goal by Zinedine Zidane. That has always been in my mind.” He also assured that Ronaldo is one of his idols: “George Weah played a very important role for me because he was the only African to win the Ballon d’Or. Ronaldo was also an inspiration for me.”

Rüdiger also looks back on his more personal side and talked about how his brother’s move to Dortmund changed their lives: “From then on I had real soccer boots. Money-wise, things also got a bit better. It was still difficult for us as a family. My brother was still young then, he was 16 or 17, and of course I couldn’t immediately change things at home for the whole family.

I was only able to do that later in my career. I was raised at home, and I was definitely raised well. But when you walk out the door, it’s just you out there. Sometimes where you grow up makes it hard to say ‘no’ to certain temptations. We don’t need to cheat anyone, we all need money. It’s not the most important thing, but we need it. And at the time we really needed it. Thank God, my way out was football.” The game between Real Madrid and Sevilla will be played on Sunday 25 February with kick off at 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT.