Rüdiger Returns to Real Madrid: Not a Step Back—and Tuchel Is the Best Coach I’ve Had

Rüdiger's Return Boosts Real Madrid

The German defender Antonio Rüdiger has returned to Real Madrid's squad after a long injury layoff, providing a strong boost for the team under coach Xabi Alonso ahead of the next phase, after he had played only one match this season against Real Aviedo at the end of August.

Ready, Rested, and Ready to Go

In a lengthy interview on Florian Malborg's YouTube channel, Rüdiger explained behind the scenes of his absence, saying he used the period to distance himself from pressure and the spotlight, and that spending time with his family was very nice.

The German international spoke about the evolution of his body with age, noting that he knows his body well, that things change with the years, and that he must always feel ready before playing. He emphasized that he does not see himself as arrogant as some think and that he accepts criticisms.

Saudi League, Kanté, and Tuchel's Impact

Rüdiger addressed talk about potential moves to the Saudi league, stating that such moves do not diminish players' quality and citing Kanté's return to the France national team as an example: playing in Saudi Arabia doesn't mean you're a worse player.

He did not hesitate to name the coach who influenced his career: Tuchel is the best coach he has worked with. He said Tuchel changed Chelsea, was always frank with him, and helped pave his path to success and to Real Madrid, which had been his biggest goal.

He also spoke about the cities he enjoyed living in, confirming that Madrid is his preferred city among those he has lived in: Madrid feels like home, with Rome and London also being wonderful, but he would always choose Madrid.

Punchline 1: If aging is a card, Rüdiger just drew the ace—solid defense and no-nonsense leadership.

Punchline 2: And if Tuchel is the cheat code, Madrid just unlocked the boss level of consistency—defense that would make a wall jealous.