Antonio Rudiger has admitted that he is unhappy with his lack of regular game time for Chelsea this season. The German appears to have dropped down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge this season as he has thus far made only one Premier League appearance to date.
It has been a dramatic fall from grace for the 27-year-old. He became a key component of the Blues first-team when he arrived at the club in 2017 and even played in 19 out of the last 22 league games in the last campaign.
Frank Lampard seems to be opting for the defensive combination of Kurt Zouma and Thiago Silva this season. Rudiger’s chances of breaking into the first-team anytime soon appear to be slim. His chances of gaining selection to the German national team for the rescheduled European Championships will thus also be very slim.
In spite of his situation, Rudiger also added that he will opt to stay and fight for a place in the first-team rather than seek a transfer away from the club this January.
“I can’t be satisfied with my situation, but the fight has been accepted,” he said as reported by The Daily Mail.
“What will happen in January is a long way off. I’m completely relaxed.”
Rudiger’s chances of regular football are not good at all
Despite having a very talented side, Chelsea are far from a finished product and their recent league losses against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton proved that. However, the defence has been one of the team’s better characteristics and it is the attack which is misfiring.
Rudiger has played four Champions League games this season which seems to indicate that Frank Lampard still does see a role for him in the team. With Silva unlikely to stay at the team beyond two years, Rudiger could win regular first-team action if he continues to work hard and impress when called upon.
