It was of little surprise Antonio Rudiger would want to define his ending at Stamford Bridge. In fact, so much of the tone reflected in his extensive piece for The Players Tribune showcases how he turned his Blues career around from a low point in 2021.
The 29-year-old will take his final Stamford Bridge bow on Sunday against Watford before he heads for Madrid for his next chapter, but one particular line from his open letter to the club titled 'Dear Chelsea', illustrated why the coming years without Rudiger can still be bright.
Reflecting on the night Chelsea beat Real Madrid to reach the Champions League final, Rudiger picked out a younger peer in Mason Mount, praising his mentality.
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"The young boys played like men on the biggest stage - especially Mason. What a player that boy is. Seriously. Elite mentality. Sometimes I have to ask myself: 'Is this guy really that young?' The way he moves, the way he carries himself, it’s not like he’s 23. Against Madrid, he was just phenomenal, and in the end, we all know what happened."
Mount would score the second to secure the Blues' place in Porto, where the academy graduate would also provide the winning pass for Kai Havertz's decisive goal as the Blues lifted their second Champions League title.
Rudiger's departure will leave a hole in the dressing room, one that might be able to be replaced by skill or talent, but unlikely by the same character and leadership. Rudiger has grown in stature under Thomas Tuchel and he has epitomised the improvement under the German coach.
Losing a player that has been a constant in Tuchel's team is a blow, but the mentality Rudiger refers to should give supporters optimism heading into a new era under the new ownership group led by Todd Boehly.
Mount, still only 23, has already achieved big things for Chelsea and the recent penalty heartbreak in the FA Cup should only motivate him to get better in the coming years. The next generation is already present in Tuchel's team.
Reece James has also grown in stature and influence over the past year, becoming a consistent creative threat and showing a level of versatility in multiple positions only increases his high value.
The Cobham mentality, that has seen several bright young stars quickly flourish on the senior stage, either in Chelsea's first team or elsewhere must be a pillar to lean on heading into the club's next era.
Rudiger will be missed, his final chapter in Blue will leave fans wanting more and replacing him will be a big challenge this summer, but there are players like Mount and James who remain that have the potential to fill the leadership gap in years to come.
