Antonio Rudiger has admitted to deliberately winding up supporters in matches during his time at Chelsea. The 29-year-old joined Real Madrid in the summer as a free agent after his deal with Blues expired.
football.london understand that Rudiger passed on a new deal at Chelsea which would have made him the highest-paid defender in the club's history. The Germany international was reportedly demanding a large signing-on fee, along with agent fees too, effectively putting a new contract out of reach for the west Londoners.
As a result, he penned a four-year deal at the Santiago Bernabeu, drawing the curtains on a successful five-year spell in the Premier League. And, after a few months at his new club, Rudiger has spoken to German outlet Sport1 on his time at Chelsea.
READ MORE: Cucurella, Loftus-Cheek and the other Chelsea stars Graham Potter can work with in training
The defender admitted that winding up the crowd was a deliberate ploy to lift fans at Stamford Bridge from their seats. Rudiger was a popular figure in west London and was known for treading the thin line between being an impulsive hot-headed lunatic and tactful genius.
"I'll be honest, I wound people up because it was just too quiet in the stadium for me during this game," Rudiger said. "I wanted to wake people up with it.
"I like to analyse my opponents and think to myself, 'Okay, let's see how they react if I provoke them a bit'," he added, speaking of the joy he gets from antagonising the opposition. "But it's not like I pick someone before every game. That happens spontaneously."
Following Chelsea's win over Zenit in the Champions League group stage last season, Romelu Lukaku said that Rudiger's craziness spurred the Blues on to victory. When asked about a slalomed run from his teammate, the striker said: "I expected the ball at the end though, but you know it was good for the stadium got the crowd going, got us going and sometimes you need moments like this."
In the BT Sport studio, Rio Ferdinand agreed, highlighting how Rudiger's chaotic tendencies lifted Chelsea's spirits. The former Manchester United defender said: "Little moments like that are key, Rudiger stepping out, a tackle it gets the fans back in the game and they’re the 12th man.
"Especially Stamford Bridge, when the fans have something to cling on to is a hard place for the opposition to play. Sometimes you have to do something to get a reaction from the fans."
READ NEXT:
Denis Zakaria sends positional message to Graham Potter as midfielder awaits Chelsea debut
Kevin De Bruyne mistake highlights why Todd Boehly plan will end frustrating Chelsea problem
Todd Boehly told key Chelsea signing would be 'biggest transfer of the last 50 years'
Kai Havertz told he could struggle for Chelsea game time under Graham Potter amid 'slow' claim
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
