Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has sung the praises of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek during an interview with Soccer AM.
Rudiger has fast become an influential member of the squad since signing from Roma in the summer of 2017. He’s a natural leader – much more vocal than many of his counterparts.
Two players who he holds in high regard are our two academy gems – CHO and RLC.
The German international told Soccer AM how he sees Hudson-Odoi as one of his close friends in the Chelsea squad – even with the eight-year age gap between the pair:
“It’s obvious you can know that me and him are very good. We have the same type of jokes so we’re laughing a lot.”
“I really like him, he’s a really good guy because of course football everything nice, everything good but what matters to me is the human in there and he’s a top guy.”
Having players like Antonio around certainly makes it easier for youngsters like Hudson-Odoi to make the transition into the first-team squad.
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Another who Rudiger is fond of is Loftus-Cheek, another who has come through Chelsea’s academy and established himself as a first-team regular.
He told Soccer AM:
“If we talk about power wise I’d go Loftus-Cheek. He’s not in the gym lifting weights or something because of his back problem. He’s more doing stretching things and stuff for his back. I think that’s just natural power that he has. It’s amazing.”
The fact that experienced members of the Chelsea squad have been so impressed by our youngsters speaks volumes. Even they must be desperate to see them start.
Maurizio Sarri appears to have (finally) realised their worth and is giving them regular opportunities to impress. Long may it continue…
