Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger has pushed back against his reputation as a hot-head, insisting his intensity is key to his success. The 33-year-old acknowledged moments where he crossed the line but highlighted his discipline over the years. Rudiger spoke ahead of important club games and the World Cup with Germany.
Antonio Rudiger, a central figure for Real Madrid and Germany, addressed criticism of his playing style in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper. He admitted to instances of losing his cool, including a six-match ban for his conduct during last season's Copa del Rey final loss to Barcelona and a recent heavy challenge on Getafe's Diego Rico. 'When, as an international, you are criticised so much, it makes you think,' Rudiger said. 'I myself know that I have had moments that clearly crossed the line.' He added that such feedback motivates him to stay focused and provide stability on the pitch, recognizing his responsibilities as a leader. Despite this, Rudiger defended his aggressive approach as essential to his career. 'Being a tough defender is part of my DNA,' he explained. 'That edge is exactly what brought me to Real Madrid.' He noted that without it, he would not have won the Champions League twice or earned numerous caps for Germany. Rudiger pointed to his record as evidence of control: no red cards in nine years, with the last coming in 2017 at Roma, and around five yellows per league season recently. Now fully fit after injury troubles since August 2024, he played full 90 minutes in both legs of Real Madrid's Champions League round-of-16 victory over Manchester City and the recent La Liga win against Atletico Madrid. 'I'm back at 100%,' he said. Looking to the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, where Germany faces Curacao, Ecuador and Ivory Coast in Group E, Rudiger called for a stronger mental edge. 'We have to be so difficult to play that the opponent doesn’t even feel like leaving the tunnel,' he urged.
