Privately, Antonio Rüdiger and Ilkay Gündogan are close friends, but in the semi-finals of the Champions League between Real Madrid and Manchester City there is no room for niceties among the national players.
“If I then have to knock Ilkay out because it helps my own team, then that’s the way it is,” Real professional Rüdiger told the “kicker” before the first leg on Tuesday (9:00 p.m.).
“I’m sure that it will be very friendly between us before and after the game on Tuesday – no matter how it ends,” said Rüdiger: “But everyone who knows me knows: I don’t know any friendships on the pitch. “
For City’s midfielder Gündogan, who can reach his third final after 2013 and 2021, “our friendship will rest for at least twice 90 minutes.”
That doesn’t change the high level of mutual respect. “For me, Toni is now one of the best central defenders in the world. I think that when he left the Bundesliga for Italy, very few believed that he would make such an incredible development,” said Gündogan.
Rüdiger, who won the premier class final with Chelsea two years ago against ManCity and Gündogan, returned the compliment. “Ilkay is pretty much the smartest player I’ve ever played with. He always thinks ahead,” he said: “Ilkay manages to improve his teammates in front of, next to and behind him. He also lets them shine.”