'He tried everything' - Low opens up on Rudiger’s failed Chelsea exit

Germany boss Joachim Low has revealed the full story of how Antonio Rudiger ‘tried everything’ to leave Chelsea.

Rudiger has slipped right down the Chelsea pecking order this season after the club’s big-money summer overhaul.

The 27-year-old hasn’t played a single minute of football in any competition this term and only made the matchday squad once for the Blues 3-1 opening day win over Brighton in the Premier League on September 14.

Andreas Christensen, Kurt Zouma, Fikayo Tomori, and summer signing Thiago Silva have all started under Frank Lampard.

Tottenham and AC Milan were on several clubs linked with a deadline day move for Rudiger. However, nothing materialized and the defender will have to stay put at Stamford Bridge until January at the earliest.

“I was in constant contact with Toni Rudiger, he was keeping me in the loop,” said Low as quoted by Goal.

“He had three or four options over the weekend but unfortunately, nothing materialized – he can try again in the winter.

“He can put in a great performance even without a few weeks of match practice. I’ve been walking the path with him over the past few years and we’ve had dialogue since the very beginning. His development over the past four or five years has been great.

“He has established himself as a top international player. In terms of athleticism, dynamism and tough duels, he maintains his top level for a few weeks even without match practice.

“He tried everything to leave Chelsea because the European Championship is very important to him. I think he’ll try to leave again in the winter. He’s doing everything he can to stay in his best form.”