After moving to Real Madrid, Antonio Rüdiger only had a few teething problems – also thanks to Carlo Ancelotti and Toni Kroos, who made it noticeably easier for the defender to settle in.
With Rüdiger, David Alaba and Eder Militao, Real Madrid have three top-level central defenders who have played equally well in the center of defense so far this season. The fact that the royals won all nine competitive games is also thanks to the strong defense – where Rüdiger makes a good impression right away.
“The results are good, we have a lot of fun as a team and I’ve settled in really well,” said Rüdiger in an interview with Sport1, adding: “Honestly, a team has never made it so easy for me to find my way around right away .”
Toni Kroos plays an important role here. Both players know each other from many years together in the national team – but they really didn’t have much to do with each other there, as Rüdiger revealed. In Madrid he now saw a completely different Kroos, the former Chelsea star confirmed. “He speaks very good Spanish, is completely open and also very helpful,” said Rüdiger about Kroos. “He’s been helping me with the language since day one and out of nowhere has offered to help me with other things on several occasions. He’s a very laid-back guy.”
But Carlo Ancelotti also does everything to make it easier for Rüdiger to settle in. The defender recounted the Italian’s visit to his home just hours after he moved in
“We were just barbecuing – until the doorbell suddenly rang. I opened it and Carlo Ancelotti was just standing in front of me,” said the 29-year-old. The real coach then sat down at the table, “ate lunch and got to know my family. Very normal, very down-to-earth,” emphasized Rüdiger.
“He was there for two hours, we talked about everything. I’ll be honest, I’ve never experienced anything like it, no coach has ever done something like that for me,” explained the national player. “After a few months with him, I have to say: When it comes to dealing with players, Ancelotti is untouchable. Just Don Carlo, a coaching legend.” Working with the Italian is “wonderful,” emphasized Rüdiger.
In general, the defensive star found it difficult to find words for his new life at Real Madrid. “It was always my dream to play in the Premier League. Real Madrid was a fantasy, something bigger – but just not close enough for me,” explained Rüdiger. “I only really realized that after I moved. I was suddenly sitting in my house and couldn’t believe it, it was a brutally beautiful feeling. […] I never thought that I would ever experience something like this !”
This article was originally published on 90min.com as Important Factors: Rüdiger about a “different Kroos” and Ancelotti’s visit.
