Rudiger relishing Chelsea reunion in Champions League clash

Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger is not underestimating the threat posed by former club Chelsea in tomorrow's Champions League tie.

Los Blancos come into the quarter-final showdown as defending champions and heavy favourites.

Their opponents for tomorrow's first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu have lost five of their last 10 games and sacked Graham Potter earlier this month.

But speaking to Under Armour, Rudiger said: "I think at this stage, there is no looking left and right, you must focus on yourself. Every team is strong, anyone can hurt anybody.

"You have us, you have Chelsea, which when you look at the individual players, they have a lot of quality. 

"Then there is Bayern Munich, Mancehster City, even Benfica, who are also a very, very difficult team to play. Napoli as well.

"I think at this stage you must worry about any team."

Rudiger spent five seasons at Chelsea, lifting the Champions League trophy in 2020-21, as well as winning the Europa League, FA Cup, Super Cup and Club World Cup.

Having seen his contract at Stamford Bridge expire, the German international joined the European champions on a free transfer.

With plenty of former colleagues set to take on Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the Spanish capital, Rudiger is excited for the chance to see a few old friends.

He added: "I had a feeling — and I even told my team-mates — that we were going to get Chelsea. 

"For me, it is a special game against my old club. To see a lot of familiar faces will be nice and at this stage of the Champions League, very exciting.

"With Mateo Kovacic, it feels like we are still playing together. We speak twice a week so I'm looking forward to seeing him.

"Not only him however — Hakim Ziyech, who I also get on well with, and Mason Mount, Reece James — there are a lot of familiar faces but also a lot of new faces of course."

Antonio Rudiger was speaking on behalf of Under Armour. Read more here.