The “beast” that Real Madrid players celebrated in the locker room after his brilliance against City
If there is a winner in the Champions League semi-final first leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester City, it is Antonio Rudiger. He faced German defender Erling Haaland, who intimidates everyone with his goals, physical strength and strong presence. He scares everyone but the former Chelsea player, as he showed from the first minute to the 90th.
In addition, the defender faced the challenge of impressing all the Real Madrid fans, something he has not yet achieved 100 per cent. It was the first part of the exam at the Bernabéu and he passed it with a perfect score, although he knows that everything is waiting for what will happen in Manchester next week.
It has not been easy for the German defender since his arrival at Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti appeared at his home a few days after his arrival to surprise him and his family. The White Club is unlike any other, which is why the coach’s gesture eased the tension of the early days.
“What a beast you are, brother!”
Rudiger himself admitted in a recent interview with Marca that there is no such thing as wearing a Real Madrid shirt. Over the past days he has worked mentally on what it means to face Haaland, something the coaching staff helped with, but the final push came through David Alaba.
There are charismatic players whose mere presence is enough to motivate teammates and fans and, by the way, intimidate opponents. A few months were enough for the Austrian to win the love of all Real Madrid fans, but he occupied the dressing room and coach from day one.
In the case of Rudiger, David Alaba has been by his side from the start, helping him in difficult moments. Alaba knew that the game against City could prove decisive for the defender. This is why you stand by him as a partner and as a leader.
As it happens with all signatures (it arrived free with a letter of freedom), Rudiger hasn’t escaped controversy. There were doubts, but in the end everything went towards the arrival of the German, who needed a match like the one in which he faced Halland, to prove himself as an elite defender.
His teammates were the first to know he needed something like that. Camavinga, Nacho, Odriozola, Valverde, Vinicius and even Marcelo, who did not team up with him, realized what the German had done through social networks.
Since his arrival everyone has loved him, earning him the appreciation of the entire dressing room. “What a beast you are, brother!” , “amazing!” And “impenetrable” were some of the greetings from his teammates in the dressing room after the City match.
Rudiger and his teammates managed to make Haaland touch the ball only thirteen times, lose it five times, and hit only twice (a header in the first half and a shot that Alaba stopped in the second). He lost the ball five times, made three passes and finished just one dribble. And Rudiger had a big role in that.
Seven years ago, he received a letter from Florentino Pérez wishing him a speedy recovery from the injury he had suffered. Those lines did not include what would happen next, but from that moment on he dreamed about it. And he accomplished it.
Source: Marca
