The latest comments laid out by Real Madrid star Antonio Rüdiger have piqued attentions across Europe late on Sunday night.
This comes after the German provided his take on what sets his current employers apart from any other club he has lined out for in the past.
Rüdiger, for his part, has taken to the pitch for high-profile sides in all of Germany, Italy, England, and now Spain.
As much comes by way of spells with Stuttgart, AS Roma and Chelsea, prior to linking up with the aforementioned Real Madrid back in the summer of 2022.
His time with Premier League heavyweights Chelsea saw the all-action stopper clinch his first taste of European glory, courtesy of the Champions League title in 2020/21.
After being ousted from the competition at the semi-final stage by Manchester City last time out, Rüdiger and the rest of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad will now have the opportunity to seek out revenge, by way of a quarter-final showdown with Pep Guardiola’s troops starting this week.
Speaking in an interview with UEFA (as cited by Marca) this weekend, the 31-year-old was in turn drawn on what it means to take to the pitch for Real Madrid in the Champions League.
And, despite his previous successes with Chelsea, Rüdiger made use of the opportunity to provide an insight into why European nights with Los Blancos simply ‘cannot be compared’ with any other:
“With all due respect to the other clubs I have been in, which were also great, I think they cannot be compared with Madrid. They have 14 European Cups. Here it is always about winning the Champions League without having to say it. Of course, you feel the pressure, I already experienced it last year. Here you have to be willing to go to the end. Here it’s about winning. Draws or defeats are simply not an option.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
