Antonio Rüdiger granted an interview to GQ magazine, in which he discusses several topics, including his famous duel with Haaland during the Champions League semi-final between Real Madrid and Manchester City.
Having arrived at Real Madrid last summer after the end of his contract with Chelsea, Antonio Rudiger had a rather mixed season in Madrid. Behind Militao and Alaba in the hierarchy of central defenders, the German international had to settle for limited playing time, mostly getting his chances when one of the regular starters was unavailable. However, the former Blues player left a mark during the first leg of the Champions League semi-final last season, as Real Madrid and Manchester City played to a draw (1-1).
Antonio Rüdiger stood out for effectively neutralizing Erling Haaland throughout the match. In an interview with the American magazine GQ, the German reflected on his duel with the Norwegian. “I was absolutely calm. I know how far I can go if I am 100% physically and mentally. It created a situation that I love. In the days leading up to the game, the media were wondering if I would be able to defend against Haaland. There was a lot of doubt in the atmosphere and, to be honest, I thrive even more when people doubt me,” he said, as reported by Real France.
In the same interview, Rudiger also discussed his goals for the rest of his career: “I don’t feel like I’ve won everything, to be honest. One of my big goals is to win the Champions League with Real Madrid. If you don’t win it, it’s like a failure. I’m 30 years old, I’m in my prime, and I’m very hungry for titles.” Rudiger and the Madrid club will aim to reclaim their European throne in the upcoming season, having relinquished it to Manchester City.
