Antonio Rudiger Insists the Fines Imposed on Chelsea were Not the Cause for his Departure
Antonio Rudiger Insists the Fines Imposed on Chelsea were Not the Cause for his Departure
Antonio Rudiger has dismissed rumors that he is quitting Chelsea as a result of the club’s imposed fines.
The 29-year-old defender has signed a four-year contract with Real Madrid, where he will earn £315,000 a week.
According to reports, Rudiger’s five-year time in west London is about to an end because of Blues restrictions prohibiting them from discussing contracts with existing players.
The German international, on the other hand, has stated that sanctions were not the issue. ‘There was a chance. But punishments are not the problem,’ he stated after Liverpool’s FA Cup final defeat. ‘I don’t want to become too involved.’ At the end of the day, it’s not just about one side (assisting the other), it’s about both sides – Chelsea has been fantastic to me, and I have been fantastic to Chelsea.’ As usual, I am grateful to me and my family. Here, I became a man. My children were born and raised here. London, particularly Chelsea, will always hold a special place in my heart.’
‘It’s been a regular five years with ups and downs, but a lot of good things. That’s why I’m even more annoyed since I wanted a different conclusion.’
Rudiger is disappointed to be leaving Chelsea without a final winner’s medal after Liverpool made Thomas Tuchel’s team pay in another cup final on penalties.
After losing the Carabao Cup final to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool on penalties after a scoreless draw in February, history repeated itself when the two teams met at Wembley for the FA Cup final.
Over 120 minutes, neither side could find a breakthrough, with Alisson Becker stopping Mason Mount before Kostas Tsimikas scored to give Liverpool a 6-5 shootout victory.
Chelsea’s third FA Cup final defeat in as many years added to Rudiger’s disappointments in the Carabao Cup in February.
‘It was a good game,’ the centre-back stated, comparing it to the Carabao Cup final.
‘We had opportunities, and they had opportunities. But, in the end, we all know that penalties are usually a crapshoot. We lost. It’s all about winning at the end of the day.
‘It’s about today, not next season,’ says the player. The game was about today, and it was there for us to take, but we didn’t.’