Rüdiger: “I hope Ancelotti helps me win another ‘Champions'”

Antonio Rudiger assured that it is “a great honor” to be coached by Carlo Ancelotti at the real Madrid and showed his illusion of “winning another ‘Champions'” after the one achieved with Chelsea.

“For me it is a great honor to work with Carlo Ancelotti. I am convinced that I can still learn much more from him and I hope he will help me win another ‘Champions’”, he told the club’s media, and highlighted how decisive the Italian coach was in his signing for the European champion. “He played a key role. After speaking with him, it was clear to me that he wanted to come to Real Madrid”, he underlined.

Rüdiger revealed that his childhood idol was Brazilian striker Ronaldo Nazario, with whom he spoke after deciding to play for Real Madrid. “When we were children and we played football in the street, Ronaldo was our idol. When I signed I spoke with him by video call. He was very happy and very nervous at the same time,” he noted.

The German defender showed his enthusiasm for the new stage in his career after triumphing at Chelsea: “I appreciate being at Real Madrid. It is as if I am dreaming, but it is real and I feel immense pleasure. I’ve never seen anything like this before, Real Madrid City is simply spectacular, it excites me and I look forward to the day I train there”.

Rüdiger acknowledged that an ex-Madrid player like Mateo Kovacić recommended him to sign. “He told me: ‘Go there and enjoy yourself a lot, it’s a big step for you.’ I’ve never heard anything bad about Real Madrid”.

He asked to be called Rudi and defined his characteristics as a defender: “I am a player with character. It is difficult to improve your speed, but I am lucky because it is something that I have thanks to my genetics. In the field I am a person focused exclusively on work, but outside of it I am funny, I like to laugh and that people have a good time. But above all, I am able to laugh at myself.”