A MESSAGE FROM BLUE RUDI

I’m loud on the pitch.. our young defenders need a leader and I’m just the man for the job says Rudiger

ANTONIO RUDIGER admits the pain of being sidelined for the first half of the season will inspire him to help Chelsea’s kids break into the big time.

The Germany international, 26, played only his second game of the season on Tuesday, as Chelsea beat Lille 2-1 to book their place in the last 16 of the Champions League. Knee and groin injuries wrecked the first four months of Rudiger’s campaign, with the defender forced to watch the breakthrough of Chelsea’s youngsters from the sidelines. Now he’s back, Rudiger has vowed to be the voice of leadership to help Kurt Zouma, Fikayo Tomori and Andreas Christensen (all above left) become a defensive force in the Champions

League and in the race for the Premier League’s top four.

“I see myself as helping them, as always,” he said. “As I did in the other years in the team, when I played with David Luiz or Gary Cahill.

“I’m loud on the pitch, especially with the young guys, because you need to help them. In my position, it’s very important to speak, to be loud, because I have the whole pitch in front of me and this has always been natural to me.

“I have always, even when I was young, been commanding. As the most experienced player at the back, I need to help those young guys. I’m in for that.”

The return of Rudiger (left) is crucial as Chelsea battle a Premier League slump in form with just one win from their last four matches.

Lampard’s side host Bournemouth on Saturday with their recent defeats to Everton and West Ham a reminder they cannot get carried away by progress in the Champions League.

“There will be a period where the performances go down,” he added. “We need to be aware of performances like Everton and West Ham, but we are only human.”