A PAYRISE? IT WOULD BE RUDE NOT TO!
Invincible Antonio would be a bargain for Blues at any price
AS a contract stand-off, it is like watching wealthy neighbours fumble for the exact bus fare.
You know they can afford it, but the bus ain’t leaving until they show you the money.
Antonio Rudiger, whose current deal ends next summer, did not play like a man who wants to leave Chelsea in this ransacking of the King Power.
Dynamic at both ends of the pitch, he looked worth every penny of whatever he is demanding, so owner Roman Abramovich – down to his last £10.7billion – might as well hand over what his defensive colossus is asking and get on with it.
Across London, Arsenal fans used to unfurl a refrain celebrating Per Mertesacker as their “big f ****** German” - but there is only one BFG in town now. With Rudiger in invincible form, Chelsea look rock-solid: Rudi, willing and stable.
If you want to know why they are top of the Premier League, and a tidy bet to successfully defend the European Cup, look at the table: just four goals conceded in 12 games. That is why Thomas Tuchel’s side are champions in the making.
Rudiger (below) promised his infant son a goal against Leicester and the Foxes’ patchwork zonal marking duly afforded him the space to open the scoring.
N’Golo Kante, against his old club, and substitute Christian Pulisic completed a comprehensive win, leaving Tuchel to shout the odds on a “happy ending” to an impasse where everybody expects a breakthrough.
The Blues head coach said: “It was a very strong performance again from Toni. He has been outstanding from day one and is getting better and better, on a very high level. We want him to stay – this is very clear and he knows it, but sometimes in these situations there’s a certain delay. There is obviously a delay in these talks and this decision, but it can happen.
“It doesn’t affect his mentality, it doesn’t affect his quality, it absolutely doesn’t affect his behaviour. He’s fully committed to Chelsea.
“I’m absolutely sure he feels the trust and the respect and the love from the club and spectators, and for me he is a big competitor and is in exactly the right spot.
“He is in the most competitive league and at a club where winning matters, and that suits him perfectly. So let’s be a bit patient and hopefully we have a good and happy ending.”
Rudiger’s form was not as convincing under the German’s predecessor Frank Lampard but Tuchel insisted: “I think one of Toni’s top qualities is that he can deliver, no matter who is on the sideline.
“He was a strong player in Italy and under several coaches for Chelsea he was strong.
“I would say we have a good relationship, he knows what to do and he lives his role to the absolute maximum.
“I never had the feeling we were struggling with winning or with the mentality. The club has this mentality and it sharpens your mindset.
“We need to be on our top level and we try to be now our best version. At the moment there’s a good spirit, and there is no reason to lay back.”
Leicester, going nowhere fast on the home front, need to place renewed emphasis on Europa League progress against Legia Warsaw on Thursday.
Midfielder Marc Albrighton admitted: “We would have liked to put up more of a fight. We didn’t do enough with the ball, we’ve got to get into more clinical positions.”