Since the departure of John Terry, Chelsea fans have been longing for vocal leaders on the pitch. As vocal as Cesar Azpilicueta has become, he cannot be the only player on the pitch that can be heard. Over the years the Blues have struggled to replace the vocal football charms in Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Petr Cech. The arrival of Thiago Silva gave birth to a new perspective and reignited the fire in the more senior individuals,
They’ve finally got it right with one particular individual but they could be letting him go at the end of the season? After the performance he gave in the Champions League, I think I speak for everyone in saying, give Antonio Rudiger his new contract.
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Chelsea faced Real Madrid in the quarter-final of the Champions League, and despite their best efforts, they fell short of the win. Despite the loss, the match was just an addition to a mountain of reasons to secure Antonio Rudiger’s signature for at least another four years.
You could see it in his eyes at the full-time whistle. Rudiger wanted more from the team and more from himself. His outbursts during the match could be heard on the television. The screams of agony after every misplaced pass, the concentration on his face when chasing his man. It’ll be disingenuous to conclude that he wanted it more than anybody on the pitch, but t could easily be argued.
Throughout this season, we have learnt a number of things about the German. He’s resilient, vocal and a true Blue. These are all the attributes that you want to see in the leaders of the team. It’s clear that he understands the magnitude of playing in such an elite club like Chelsea and wants to live up to the high expectations.
I see Rudiger as a motivational player. His social media presence tells me so. After a loss or a win, the Chelsea defender would often make a post with encouraging words, calling for fans and his fellow teammates to believe. I’m not saying that he’s the kindest soul on the football pitch, but he is a necessary personality to have in the dressing room.
There is a long list of things that Chelsea’s new owners will have to nip in the bud once they are appointed. Antonio Rudger’s contract is the first. We have entered a new era in terms of mentality, and we have a coach who trusts and believes in Rudiger. With the possibility of Azpillcueta leaving, the leadership of the team will already have a dent. Losing Rudiger, too, will only leave a massive hole.
Let’s hope that the new owners work hard to avoid leaving such a gap in the dressing room. As we know, a player like that cannot be replaced easily.
