Antonio Rudiger takes a swipe at Tottenham while revealing his most challenging opponent.
Rudiger, having played in the Premier League, LaLiga, and the Bundesliga, has faced the daunting task of silencing some of the most lethal strikers in the game. The Real Madrid star has gone head-to-head with the likes of Luis Suarez, Karim Benzema, Harry Kane, and Robert Lewandowski throughout his career.
Rudiger's Shocking Revelation
However, it wasn't a forward that Rudiger named as his most difficult adversary. Instead, it was a midfielder he had only faced twice. Speaking on The Inside Scoop, Rudiger disclosed that former Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele was his toughest opponent. The 31-year-old expressed disbelief that Tottenham was the highest level Dembele played at in terms of clubs.
Rudiger's Disbelief
"Like, wow," Rudiger said. "This guy, that he didn't play, no disrespect to Tottenham, but that he didn't play at a bigger club, I don't know how. I really don't know how because he had everything. This guy, I've never seen someone so strong like him. He was like a wall."
Rudiger continued, "And technique, he doesn't know pressure. You can pass him the ball, two men can be behind him, no problem."
The Rudiger-Dembele Encounters
The only times Rudiger and Dembele clashed were during the 2017/18 Premier League season. Chelsea emerged victorious in the first encounter in August 2017, winning 2-1 with both players featuring for the full match. However, Tottenham avenged their loss in the return fixture at Stamford Bridge, securing a 3-1 win in April 2018.
Dembele's Remarkable Ability
Rudiger isn't the first person to make such a strong claim about Dembele's exceptional talent. Martin Jol, who managed Fulham during Dembele's tenure, sang the Belgian's praises after Tottenham activated his £15 million release clause in August 2012.
"We've had a few players over the last few years who are a class above," Jol said in 2012. "Dembele is probably the best player on the ball I've ever seen, and we lost him."
Dembele's Career after Tottenham
Following his transfer from Fulham, Dembele went on to make 249 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham. However, his time in north London concluded in January 2019 when he joined Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R&F for a mere £11 million. He only played 47 times for the Chinese team before opting to retire at the end of the 2022 CSL season.
