Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger has accused Diego Rico of exaggerating his knee to the head when he was down during the defeat to Getafe two weeks ago. The German defender was heavily criticized for the aggressive or careless nature he got into Rico.
Rudiger escaped punishment on the night, VAR decided not to intervene in the incident, which angered the players and staff of Getafe. Rico gave an interview the next day and said that if he had caught her badly, he would have left her on the grass. He also noted that had it not been the case, he would have received a 10-game ban.
“I saw the slow-motion replay and it looks bad. But if you watch the game itself … I won’t argue with him, but I didn’t kill him. He shouldn’t exaggerate by contacting him, because if I had come in with the intention of hurting him, I would have hurt him. I talked to him after the game. If you put everything, he froze the imagen’t . Card, why I wasn’t fired I didn’t intend to hurt him, but I have boundaries that I don’t cross, that’s why I think those the statements are exaggerated.
The following week the Referee Committee confirmed that Rudiger should have been sent off.
Antonio Rudiger against Erling Haaland
The press conference came ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League second leg against Manchester City, with Los Blancos holding a three-goal advantage. City striker Erling Haaland was withdrawn after just 10 touches, and Rudiger has made a habit of getting the best of him.
“I don’t think too much about these statistics, I don’t attach too much importance to them, they are just numbers. He won the battle against me in the group stage. Players like Haaland are tough, and it’s fun to face the best. I really enjoy that physical battle. Huijsen also played a great game; I’m not alone in that defense. I’m looking forward to this game.”
“I have faced him many times… he is a world-class player and he is young. He is very strong and I love these types of duels when I play. In my first season here, no defender could give him a good game and beat him… and I was the first. He is a good man and the best footballer. There is nothing else I can say.”
Rudiger on the future of Real Madrid
The defender is one of the players out of contract this summer. The general report is that he will not extend his contract at the end of the season.
“For me, the most important thing is to be healthy. I feel well. As for the rest… I’m sure it will resolve itself. Now is not the time to talk about it.”
“I feel happy here. I notice the respect of the people and I appreciate it a lot. But sometimes you can’t just think about the emotional side; I also have to think about the fact that I feel good and there is a job to do. But I love Real Madrid.”
‘We have to have the same attitude all the time’
Real Madrid were unanimously praised for their mentality in the first leg against City, who seem to be hosting the event, but also their spirit together.
“It is not only tomorrow that we need to have that mentality, we must always. We win together or we all lose. And we must choose wisely.”
With a number of youngsters having stepped up in recent weeks, such as Thiago Pitarch, Manuel Angel and Cesar Palacios, Rudiger has also been asked about his role as a veteran when it comes to young players coming through.
“I think I have an important role because we play with many young players and my job is to help them, it is my job to develop them as players. Young players must accept that they are not Sergio Ramos or Maldini when they start.”
“As veterans, you have to carry that burden and reduce the pressure on the young players, look at the ones who are coming in and they are doing a great job, give a hat to the coach for giving them that confidence.”
Real Madrid will face Manchester City at the Etihad at 21:00 CEST, and are heavy favorites to advance to the quarter-finals where they will face Bayern Munich or Atalanta.
