Rudiger will brave racist abuse again
ANTONIO CONTE says he does not know whether Antonio Rudiger will face a repeat of the racist abuse directed his way by Roma supporters two weeks ago.
But the Chelsea manager is sure that the defender should be greeted with applause when he returns to the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow in the Champions League.
Conte’s side face the Italians again after a 3-3 draw in the first meeting that was overshadowed by allegations of racist chants by the visiting supporters at Stamford Bridge.
UEFA have charged Roma and the matter will be dealt with by the governing body on November 16.
Asked if there was a risk Rudiger could again be targeted, Conte said: “I don’t know, I don’t know. I think Roma supporters are very passionate.
“In this case, I think that Rudiger played for Roma for many years and deserves to have claps. But I repeat, Roma’s fans are very passionate. During the game you feel this.”
German international Rudiger highlighted the issue of racist abuse in Italian football before he made his £29million summer switch to Chelsea. He had called on FIFA to intervene.
The defender insisted, though, that he was happy to be heading back to Rome and said he knew the Champions League draw was destined to pair the clubs.
“I spoke to my parents about it and I already knew, and my parents even told me, ‘You’ll get Roma’,” said Rudiger.
“I’m happy to go on Monday to Rome, to go there and play against my old team, because I have big respect for them. I had two wonderful years there,
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with ups and downs with injuries.
“They were standing always behind me; the players, the team, the board, the fans. I appreciate that. Now I am at Chelsea and I am very happy with that.”
On Saturday evening, Eden Hazard’s 51st-minute goal had been enough to beat a struggling Bournemouth, who are battling to get out of the bottom three.
Bournemouth’s former Chelsea defender Nathan Ake said: “Individual quality from Hazard changed the game.
“He is a massive player for them. He’s up there with Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero.
“He’s different to Kane, really difficult to mark, and he can be running everywhere on the pitch. He is just a really good player. He showed his quality.”
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe said: “We need to be very brave in our approach and have no doubts about how good we are. When you are in this league and you lose, there can be a feeling that the easy thing to do is fall into a trap and become defensive.
“We’ve never been that kind of team and I will not allow us to become that kind of team. It’s very important we play to our strengths.”
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