Rudiger aims sly dig at Frank Lampard with Chelsea star now in form of his life

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has aimed several digs at former manager Frank Lampard after his short spell in charge at Stamford Bridge.

The German defender has been a revelation for the Blues since Thomas Tuchel was appointed as manager.

Rudiger has been an integral part of Chelsea’s back-three in the Premier League this season, being given the freedom to bomb forward when his side are in possession but also be the rock-solid leader in the heart of the defence.

Some of Europe’s top clubs are currently keeping tabs on the 28-year-old as his contract runs out next summer and he is yet to agree on a new contract with Chelsea, though he does seem happy at his current club.

Speaking to The Guardian, the defender spoke of how Tuchel becoming manager got his career back on track.

“Tuchel gave me new life," he said. "I wouldn’t say he said: ‘You have to be the biggest speaker in the dressing room.’ I’m not like this. I like to show everything on the pitch.

“He told me what he expects – my natural game: to be aggressive, to be a leader.”

Rudiger was frozen out of the Chelsea team by Lampard during his time in the dugout at Stamford Bridge.

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The defender made just one appearance in the first 15 games of the 2020/21 season which almost led the ex-Roma defender to try to force an exit for a cut-price fee in the summer of 2021.

In the media, Rudiger was painted as one of the bad guys in the dressing room, with some even reporting that the Germany international asked for Lampard to be sacked – though those claims were denied by the player.

Asked whether he felt he had a point to prove after Lampard was sacked in January 2020 and Tuchel was appointed, Rudiger replied: “One hundred per cent. The manager got fired and there were a lot of people … I don’t know what they tried, but it didn’t work.

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“I played back three under [Antonio] Conte at Chelsea. I played back four with [Maurizio] Sarri, which was a good season. If there is a clear plan in what you are doing, it doesn’t matter if it’s a back three or a four.”

The comments suggest that there is still a bad feeling between Rudiger and Lampard given that the player suggested the Blues legend was unorganised whilst in the hot seat and that his inability to build a strong defence was the underlying reason for his departure.

It remains to be seen whether Rudiger stays at Chelsea, though fans will be hoping so as he has quickly asserted himself as one of the best defenders in Europe.

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