Antonio Rüdiger is bullish but realistic. “Honestly, if we speak about favourites we have to speak about form,” the defender says as he considers Germany’s hopes of winning the World Cup in Qatar. “And before the last international break you look at teams like Brazil and France. I think because of our current form, maybe not so much. But we are a big nation and have a good team. You can never count us out. Anything can happen.”
The delivery is typical Rüdiger: forthright, honest, no prisoners taken. The Real Madrid centre-back’s role for Germany has developed. He has become one of the elder statesmen and is aware he has a responsibility to keep standards high in the dressing room. “I am one of the players who’s been there longest,” Rüdiger says. “I have to be one of the leaders.”
Rüdiger, who is expected to start against Japan in Ar Rayyan on Wednesday, is known for his aggressive defending. He was key to Chelsea winning the Champions League last year and is open about Germany’s strengths and weaknesses. The 29-year-old was a squad player when his country exited the 2018 World Cup in the first round and he started in their defeat by England in the last 16 of Euro 2020.
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This German generation is difficult to analyse. Joachim Löw has been replaced by Hansi Flick, whose squad contains several gifted youngsters. Germany are capable of playing scintillating football but they are inconsistent. Relinquishing a 2-0 lead during their 3-3 draw with England in September underlined their frailties.
“I watched that game from home,” Rüdiger says. “I think both teams were not at their best. We need to improve. We need to manage the game better. If you’re winning 2-0 you cannot give it away in four minutes.”
Was it inexperience? “Maybe a little bit. But the goals we conceded were a little bit too easy. This has nothing to do with experience – it’s just a lack of focus. We are not robots. We all make mistakes. But you try to avoid those easy ones where you lack concentration. That’s the pressure that comes with this high level. You cannot have this lack of focus.”
Rüdiger, who left Chelsea on a free at the end of last season, appreciates old-school defending. He looks up to Sergio Ramos, Pepe and Thiago Silva. “In this generation these are the best centre-backs,” he says. “Also Giorgio Chiellini and Leo Bonucci. As long as these people are in the game there is no consideration for anyone else being the best centre-back.”
Silva and Rüdiger were part of a great Chelsea defence. They miss the German, who decided to leave when talks over a new contract with the club’s old regime broke down. “I have good memories and friends from there,” he says. “But life goes on.”
Rüdiger recalls how the then Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel, conducted himself with the media when the club’s former owner Roman Abramovich was hit with sanctions by the UK government after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“All the questions that came up, the way he handled himself, I think you couldn’t have done it better,” Rüdiger says. “He took a lot of pressure from a lot of people away. Not only us players. You heard a lot from him. I think it was a very tiring situation for him. You have to focus on your job as a manager and then you have all these political questions you have to answer. He was unbelievable.”
Rüdiger does not have a bad word to say about Tuchel. He could not believe it when Chelsea sacked his fellow German this season. “It hit me,” Rüdiger says. “What he achieved in the club, even if it was under the old regime, it was a shock. He gets players that he wants and then all of a sudden he’s gone.
“But it’s Chelsea. It’s also somehow not a surprise. I messaged him and said: ‘Thank you very much for everything you did.’ Not only for me but for all of us. Without him winning the Champions League was a bit far away.”
Rüdiger speaks affectionately about his time at Chelsea but he could not turn down Madrid. “Chelsea was a chapter on its own,” he says. “It was great, great, great. But Real Madrid is the elite club in football. This says it all: in the past nine years winning five Champions Leagues.”
Joining the European champions has given Rüdiger a chance to play with Karim Benzema, who scored four times across two legs when Madrid knocked Chelsea out of the Champions League last season. He has marvelled at the France striker’s dedication in training – “As a striker, the way he moves, the ability is just ‘wow’” – and has loved seeing Luka Modric up close. It was Modric who altered the course of Madrid’s tie against Chelsea with that assist for Rodrygo, using the outside of his right foot to find the Brazilian. “It’s normal for him,” Rüdiger says. “I barely see him pass with his left foot.”
Talent shines at Madrid, where players are liberated by Carlo Ancelotti. “He’s calm,” Rüdiger says. “He is from a generation where I never thought I’d train under him. That is already a wow effect. I never saw something like his man-management before. The first day I arrived here for the presentation he came to my home and sat with my family. I thought: ‘This is not normal.’ No coach ever did it for me.”
Ancelotti would have discovered that Rüdiger is proud of his Sierra Leonean heritage. His parents were refugees who came to Germany after fleeing civil war in their home country. Rüdiger grew up in Berlin-Neukölln and, although he has previously said he lived in an area “where I had to be tough”, he feels more fortunate than others.
That is why he has launched a foundation in Sierra Leone. “It is somehow my responsibility to give back,” Rüdiger says. “I am a Muslim. I believe that when you do something you do it from your heart. Not to speak about it. But I am highly involved in my country. It is very important to me.
“I am fortunate to have grown up in Germany and to have had an education. I can go to the doctor any time I want. But there are some people who are less fortunate. Covid came. It hit Europe very hard. I was thinking: ‘If it hits us so hard and we don’t know what’s going on, then what’s happening in Africa?’ Then you try to do what you can.”
He is donating his World Cup earnings to fund operations for 11 physically disadvantaged children. “I am working with BigShoe,” he says. “They go round Africa and do many operations. They help disabled kids. They deserve support.
“The way these kids grow up … I didn’t grow up like this. I grew up very well compared to them. I cannot complain about where I grew up when I see them. I feel obliged to help. I was born and raised in Germany. When I put the shirt on I represent Germany. In that case it’s football. I only think about Germany. But when I go home I feel proud to say I’m a proud Sierra Leonean.”
Rüdiger is desperate for Germany to do well. He was aghast to hear that they have lost the former Chelsea striker Timo Werner to an ankle injury. Three more of Rüdiger’s former Chelsea teammates – France’s N’Golo Kanté and England’s Reece James and Ben Chilwell – are missing with injuries, which brings us to the weirdness of a winter World Cup.
“It’s new for everyone,” Rüdiger says. “You hear about injuries popping up. Somewhere in the back of the head you’re thinking about it. What can you do? You just go with the wind.”
Rüdiger is not afraid to voice his opinion. He has criticised the decision to award the tournament to Qatar but he also wants to play. Players and coaches are not responsible for Qatar’s human rights record and treatment of the LGBTQ+ community. When this tournament was awarded in 2010 “I was not even a professional,” Rüdiger says. “I am going to play in a World Cup and I want to enjoy the tournament. It’s the first time it’s in an Arab country. I go there with a clear mind.”
We discuss his World Cup memories and he remembers Ronaldo leading Brazil to victory in 2002. He thinks of Brazil’s options now. “Vinícius, Rodrygo. I could name 10 more,” Rüdiger says. “They’re a scary team. But you never know what can happen in 90 minutes.
“We don’t need to be afraid of anyone. It’s football. If you’re really tight together it can be very helpful. We have to get the job done. We have played many great games. Now it’s the big stage. I’m not worried. We have a fantastic group.”
