Rudiger sets the score straight on his Chelsea future

The Blues defender has given a definite answer on his future at Stamford Bridge amid a trying season.

‘Frank Lampard in or out, I would have stayed anyway’, says Antonio Rudiger in response to rumors over a Chelsea exit.

The 27-year-old struggled for regular opportunities under Lampard this season before the manager’s dismissal in January, making just four Premier League appearances. Doubts, therefore, rose over his future.

Lampard did, though, start Rudiger in his last two league games in charge of Chelsea.

And while the center-back has since enjoyed an improved status under the new coach, and fellow German, Thomas Tuchel, he insists an exit wasn’t going to happen.

“Inside myself, I was always calm and relaxed, I’ll be very honest,” Rudiger told Sky Sports. “I was not going crazy because I was not playing at the beginning and when you’re not in the squad, you think ‘oh wow, what’s happening?’

“Then suddenly I was back in the team and got some games. From that moment on, my head was ‘I’m staying here at Chelsea and trying to fight for my spot’. In the last games of Frank Lampard, I was featuring even more. Lampard in or out, I would have stayed anyway.”

Chelsea will be in action on Monday night at home to Newcastle United in a Premier League match.