‘He clearly didn’t love Chelsea’ – Paul Merson makes bold statement on Tuchel key player at Chelsea
Thomas Tuchel arrived Chelsea in just a year and has turned around the club and make them Champions after winning three trophies in less than a year at Chelsea.
Tuchel turned some Chelsea players into a beast and bring out the best out of them, one of them is Antonio Rudiger.
Who can ever believed that Rudiger can be in his best form after struggling under former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard.
Following his massive turn-around under Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, Pundit Paul Merson has claimed that Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger doesn’t love the club.
Meanwhile, according to reports, The German man is set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer at the end of the season after failing to sign a 230k a-week Chelsea offer.
While it has been claimed that Rudiger is leaving mainly because of the sanctions placed on Chelsea, Paul Merson is of the opinion that Rudiger has long had this in mind, especially after what happened under Frank Lampard.
Paul Merson told the Daily Star: “Antonio Rudiger is the one player Chelsea couldn’t afford to lose, but he clearly didn’t love the club enough to stay.”
“He is risking the wrath of the fans now because he is turning down a lot of money and leaving them in the lurch, but let’s be honest: it’s been on the cards for a long, long time.
“I called this one months ago. I don’t think Rudiger ever had any intention of signing; not after he was frozen out by Frank Lampard.
“I know plenty has changed since then. Thomas Tuchel came in, brought him back into the team, and they won the Champions League.”
“But I think he had already made his mind up. His contract was already running down and other clubs would already have been expressing an interest,” Merson went on.
“You don’t wait all that time, refusing to sign, losing all that money you would have got by signing on improved terms, just to turn around and stay. It’s serious money he has turned down.
“He would have been the most well-paid defender in the club’s history. But he doesn’t love the club, does he? Or he’d have stayed.
“And he’s an unbelievable defender. Thiago Silva helps him, but I think he helps Thiago Silva as well. They are so good together in a three.
“It will be interesting to see how the fans are going to be now when he plays at Stamford Bridge. I don’t see them being too happy with him.”