Rüdiger pushed to the limit
The Real Madrid centre-back has played 95% of the total possible playing time due to the plague of injuries and Germany has not given him a break... not even in two friendlies in the US.
Players have started returning to their respective clubs following the international break with Real Madrid being one of the clubs most affected by the dreaded FIFA virus. Carlos Ancelotti’s defence was already under the cosh with Eder Militão sidelined until next year and his available players are starting to feel the strain.
Antonio Rüdiger, one of the only two centre-backs available for Saturday’s trip to Sevilla (along with David Alaba), and recently back from injury, has returned from his duties with Germany. The center back has barely had a break since the season began. He has only had 50 minutes’ rest since August, between games for Madrid and Die Mannschaft. Rüdiger has shown himself to be a footballer with a reliable physique, but everyone has a limit...
No Madrid player has built up as many minutes on-field as the German defender. He has played every game bar the league opener in San Mamés when Militão started alongside Alaba (Rüdiger replaced the Brazilian on 50 minutes). Since then he hasn’t stopped. In total, 95 percent (940 minutes) of the possible 990 minutes playing time that Madrid has racked up in official competition in 2023-24. Not even the in-form Bellingham, the undisputed first-choice can say the same. The Englishman has had been handed breaks and has so far completed 86.5% of the possible minutes.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann is showing no mercy either. His side is trying to find some equilibrium after a series of catastrophic results that cost Hansi Flick his job last month. The new coach has not had time to redesign his back four as the team builds up for next year’s Euros. That was evident in the two recent friendlies played in the United States. In the first, against the United States, on Saturday, Rüdiger played every minute even though it was just a friendly with nothing at stake. He remained on the pitch even after Germany had gone 1-3 up on 60 minutes. In the following game - also a friendly, against Mexico in Philadelphia, he once again played every minute (heading in Germany’s opening goal in the 2-2 draw).
There is also another important factor to take into account. Rüdiger is the only Madrid player on four yellow cards and in danger of being suspended with El Clásico looming, in Montjuïc, on the 28th. A clash in which, at least, Nacho should be available if Madrid’s appeal is successful to see his ban reduced from three games to two.
Rüdiger has become so indispensable in Carletto’s plans because he is the only one who has managed to resist the rigors of an overload of fixtures. In the centre of defence he has almost played as much as Alaba and Nacho combined (1,117 minutes ).
For now, the German international has been able to cope. At the Pizjuán, he will have to be extra careful not to end up in the ref’s notebook as that would leave him without the Clásico. That will be another challenge in itself. He is one of four internationals who will make it to the game, if all goes well, by the skin of their teeth... as Ancelotti sarcastically quipped, things might have been made easier if he flew straight to Seville and joined up with his team mates there...