PULISIC: IT WILL FEEL RUDI SORE

CHRISTIAN PULISIC has lifted the lid on Chelsea’s sense of loss that Antonio Rudiger is quitting the club.

Rudiger turned down the chance to become the club’s highest-paid defender ever, with Real Madrid now favourites to sign him on a free when his contract expires this summer.

Pulisic says Rudiger has been “immense” for Chelsea and admits he will be a big miss with the club still unsure if sanctions will be lifted so they can sign a replacement.

Blues winger Pulisic said: “He’s done so much for this club. Obviously a big part of this team, he’s done so much. He’s a big piece and we’re going to miss him for sure.”

Rudiger (below) is free to talk to other teams and Spanish giants Real are pushing hardest to bring him to the Bernabeu with more talks planned this week.

Barcelona and Bayern Munich also considered moves for the Germany defender but regard his wage demands as too steep.

With Rudiger out injured, Pulisic came off the bench to grab a late winner (above) for Chelsea against West Ham on Sunday, keeping them on course for a third-place finish.

But the USA star insists there is still plenty to play for with an FA Cup final to look forward to next month as well.

And he believes Thomas Tuchel’s men have turned the corner after going out of the Champions League and losing to Arsenal at home.

Pulisic said: “Maybe we didn’t have a couple of our best games in recent weeks and let in some goals that we normally don’t.

“I thought we came back to where we have been and we were very solid at the back against West Ham. It is important for us and hopefully we can finish the season strong now.

“Right now we are just focused on this season and winning the rest of our games and hopefully we will end up with a trophy.

“We have the FA Cup and we are happy with how far we’ve come. It is definitely something we want to win.”