Real Madrid’s defender Antonio Rudiger confessed that he remained composed when given the responsibility of halting Erling Haaland during the previous season’s showdown between the Spanish giants and Manchester City.
The past season proved to be unforgettable for Pep Guardiola and his star-studded City team, both in Europe and beyond, as they achieved an unprecedented treble. At 23 years old, Haaland played a significant role in this triumph.
Following his move from Bundesliga’s Borussia Dortmund to the Etihad Stadium last summer, the Norwegian striker scored an impressive 52 goals in 53 matches, surpassing the £51 million fee paid for his acquisition. Despite City’s dominance over Real Madrid across two matches, Haaland was unable to find the net in a rare Champions League display against them.
In the first leg of their semifinal clash, Kevin De Bruyne managed to score a crucial equalizer for City in a 1-1 draw at Santiago Bernabeu. In the subsequent return leg, an impressive 4-0 victory was achieved, with goals coming from Bernardo Silva (2), Manuel Akanji, and Julian Alvarez. Despite effectively neutralizing Haaland’s impact in the first leg, Rudiger found himself on the bench for the second game.
When he eventually entered the match, City had already secured a two-goal advantage, making the situation challenging. With significant media attention focused on their individual matchup, what was Rudiger’s experience like while tasked with marking Haaland amidst such intense scrutiny?
During an interview with GQ – via Spanish publication AS – former Chelsea defender Rudiger said
“I was absolutely calm. I know how far I can go if I am at 100 per cent both physically and mentally.
“A circumstance was created that I love. The days before, the media wondered if I was going to be able to defend Haaland, there were a lot of doubts in the atmosphere and if I’m honest, I love that atmosphere. I shine more when people doubt me.”
