Antonio Rüdiger opened up about his physical struggles, his mentality and his way of defending in a candid interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitungoffering insight into a challenging period in his career and his return to full fitness.
The Real Madrid defender revealed that he had been dealing with ongoing physical problems for much of last season, often playing through pain before finally taking a step back to properly recover.
“I feel very good and I am relieved that my medical treatments are starting to bear fruit. Since almost August-September 2024, there was always some problem. Now I can finally play full matches again without any physical discomfort. Last season I could only play and even train if I took painkillers. In January of this year, I got worse again, and then I knew: now we have to stop, especially with the World Cup this summer in mind. But now, I am back to 100%.”
Rüdiger admitted that his commitment to Real Madrid led him to prioritize the team over his own health, even if it came at a cost.
“I put my health on the back burner and wanted to be 100% at Real Madrid, because there is nothing I hate more than disappointing my teammates. Would I do it again? Probably! Still, after my operation in 2025, I said internally more clearly that I really couldn’t continue anymore…”
The Germany international also addressed the criticism he has received, acknowledging that some of his actions have crossed the line and underlining his desire to improve.
“When you are criticized so much as an international figure, it makes you think. If the criticism is presented seriously and objectively, of course I take it seriously, because I myself know that I have had actions that have clearly crossed the line. That also influences my attempt to focus even more. I do not want to be a source of problems, but rather contribute to stability and security. The debate reminds me that I have a responsibility and that sometimes I have not lived up to it.”
Known for his aggressive defensive style, Rüdiger made it clear that intensity is a fundamental part of his identity as a player.
“Being a tough defender is part of my DNA. If you want to be a one-on-one specialist at this level, you can’t be a nice little helper. You have to tell the striker: ‘Today is going to be a bad day for you.’ It’s a question of mentality.”
“If I take away that intensity, that commitment, that playing to the limit, I’m only half as good. That advantage is exactly what brought me to Real Madrid. In Madrid they value and celebrate precisely that. Without that, I wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t have won the Champions League twice, nor would I have played so many games for my country.”
Rüdiger also detailed the psychological and tactical aspects behind his defense, explaining how he studies his opponents and adapts his approach.
“It’s psychology. A striker wants space, he wants calm with the ball. My job is to take away both, even when the ball isn’t even close. A little hit here, a close mark there… you have to be present. The right level of toughness is learned through experience.”
“Of course I adapt. When you play against a small, fast striker, you have to defend differently than against one who is 1.90 meters tall. And of course, if an opponent gets frustrated quickly, I take advantage of that too. I analyze the players carefully beforehand, sometimes even preparing my own video analysis, and I know who I should send a physical message to from the beginning.”
Finally, the defender rejected the idea that his aggressive style puts his team at risk, pointing to his disciplinary record as proof.
“That’s the point that many don’t understand: I play with intensity, but I’m definitely not a risk for my teams. I know perfectly well what minute it is and what’s at stake. Nine years without a red card on the field is not a coincidence; the last one was in 2017, still with Roma. Even my number of yellow cards is much lower than many believe. In recent years, I have averaged around five per league season.”