Antonio Rüdiger has opened up about his physical struggles, mentality, and approach to defending in a candid interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, offering insight into a challenging period in his career and his return to full fitness.
The Real Madrid defender revealed that he had been dealing with ongoing physical issues for much of the past season, often playing through pain before finally stepping back to recover properly.
“I feel really good and I’m relieved that my medical treatments
are starting to pay off. Since practically August-September 2024, there was always some problem. Now I can finally play full matches again without any physical discomfort. Last season I could only play—and even train—if I was taking painkillers. In January of this year, I got worse again, and then I knew: now you have to stop, especially with the World Cup this summer in mind. But now, I’m back to 100%.”
Rüdiger admitted that his commitment to Real Madrid led him to prioritize the team over his own health, even if it came at a cost.
“I put my health on the back burner and wanted to be 100% for Real Madrid, because there’s nothing I hate more than letting my teammates down. Would I do it again? Probably! Even so, after my surgery in 2025, I did say internally more clearly that I really couldn’t go on anymore…”
The German international also addressed criticism he has received, acknowledging that some of his actions have crossed the line while emphasizing his desire to improve.
“When you’re so criticized as an international figure, it makes you think. If the criticism is presented seriously and objectively, of course I take it seriously, because I know myself that I’ve had actions that clearly crossed the line. That also influences my attempt to be even more focused. I don’t want to be a source of problems, but rather to contribute stability and security. The debate reminds me that I have a responsibility and that at times I haven’t lived up to it.”
Known for his aggressive defensive style, Rüdiger made it clear that intensity is a fundamental part of his identity as a player.
“Being a tough defender is part of my DNA. If you want to be a one-on-one specialist at this level, you can’t be a nice little helper. You have to tell the striker, “Today is going to be a bad day for you.” It’s a matter of mentality.”
“If I take away that intensity, that commitment, that playing on the edge, I’m only half as good. That edge is exactly what brought me to Real Madrid. In Madrid, they value and celebrate precisely that. Without it, I wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t have won the Champions League twice, nor would I have played so many games for my country.”
Rüdiger also detailed the psychological and tactical aspects behind his defending, explaining how he studies opponents and adapts his approach.
“It’s psychology. A striker wants space, he wants peace of mind with the ball. My job is to take both of those things away from him, even when the ball isn’t even close. A little bump here, close marking there… you have to be present. You learn the right level of toughness with experience.”
“Of course I adapt. When you play against a small, fast striker, you have to defend differently than against one who’s 1.90 meters tall. And of course, if an opponent gets frustrated quickly, I take advantage of that too. I analyze the players thoroughly beforehand—sometimes I even prepare my own video analyses—and I know who I need to send a physical message to from the start.”
Finally, the defender pushed back against the idea that his aggressive style puts his team at risk, pointing to his disciplinary record as evidence.
“That’s the point many don’t understand: I play with intensity, but I’m definitely not a risk to my teams. I know perfectly well what minute it is and what’s at stake. Nine years without a red card on the field isn’t a coincidence—the last one was in 2017, still with Roma. Even my number of yellow cards is much lower than many believe. In recent years, I’ve averaged around five per league season.”
