On Wednesday evening, the 30-year-old defender displayed an outstanding performance for the Spanish powerhouse against Mallorca. Notably, he contributed to the team’s clean sheet before scoring the only goal of the game in the 78th minute.
Real Madrid secured their position at the top of La Liga due to their superior goal difference over surprise team Girona. Rudiger’s headed goal from a corner secured their victory, edging past Predrag Rajkovic.
In the current season, Real has conceded only 11 goals in 19 league matches, largely thanks to their solid defense.
After Rudiger’s impressive display, manager Carlo Ancelotti praised the German, highlighting his significant contribution during an injury crisis.
“He has stepped up in the absence of others,” Ancelotti stated, commending Rudiger’s consistent and exceptional performance.
His teammate from the German national team, Ozil, echoed similar sentiments on social media platform X, praising Rudiger’s skills and indirectly criticizing Chelsea for allowing him to leave, suggesting his departure has impacted the team’s current difficulties.
“Presently, Toni Rudiger is simply the best defender globally. Incredible season for Real Madrid, my former team,” he expressed following Real’s 1-0 win against Mallorca.
The post further highlighted the opinions of Victor Osimhen and Erling Haaland on Rudiger’s excellence.
“See what happened to Chelsea after his exit. They miss his mindset every day.”
Chelsea, currently in 10th place in the Premier League standings, has conceded 31 goals in 20 games this season. Rudiger chose to join Bernabeu after his contract with Stamford Bridge ended in the summer of 2022. Despite Chelsea’s efforts to retain him, his departure, coupled with Andreas Christensen’s free transfer exit, created a void in the team’s defense.
Despite Chelsea’s subsequent investments in new center-backs like Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi, and Benoit Badiashile, none have been able to fill the gap left by Rudiger’s departure.
