Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has confirmed that Antonio Rudiger has suffered another injury during his side’s 5-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday (via the Metro). The German defender was substituted at half-time after picking up a groin problem in the first half at the Molineux Stadium.
In the post-match press conference (via the Metro), Lampard revealed that Rudiger did not feature in the second 45 minutes as a precaution when he said, ‘He’s had a groin issue which he bothered as he came off the pitch near me – he slipped onto the metal which made him have to slide and adjust himself so he bothered his groin.
‘He ran off the pitch and unfortunately he bothered it then. It’s a quick turnaround but hopefully [he can play Valencia]. Hopefully not too bad.
‘It’s more of a precaution because he did feel some pain, so we’ll assess it over the next couple of days.’
The Premier League encounter against Nuno Espirito Santo’s men was Rudiger’s first appearance for the Pensioners this season. Therefore, it will be a bitter pill to swallow for the player to get injured again after his impressive performance in the first half versus Wolves.
Rudiger’s Impressive Form In The Premier League Last Season
The 26-year-old was a commanding presence at the back for the UEFA Europa League winners in the previous campaign. Hence, Chelsea will hope that Rudiger’s latest injury setback is not serious so that he can be fit and available for selection in the coming weeks when fixtures come thick and fast across all competitions.
Since making a switch to Stamford Bridge from AS Roma in the summer transfer period of 2017, the German defender has featured in 90 matches for the Pensioners, registering four goals while creating two assists on all fronts.
The Berlin-born talent enjoyed a good run of form defensively for the West London giants last season when he made an average of 1.0 tackles, 1.0 interceptions and 2.9 clearances per game in the English top-flight (stats via whoscored). Rudiger has also appeared in 30 international matches for Germany and has netted one goal for his nation thus far.
What Are The German Prospect’s Biggest Strengths?
Rudiger is a moderately paced centre-half who can make some vital interceptions at the back for his team. The German international can command his defence with authority and conviction as he wins most of the 50-50 aerial duels against the opposition. He is not afraid to perform under pressure which makes him an invaluable asset in Lampard’s squad.
Rudiger Unlikely To Feature Vs Valencia Due To Injury: Massive Blow For Chelsea?
Lampard will keep his fingers crossed and hope that Rudiger can make a quick comeback from his groin injury so that he can be ready in time to face Liverpool next weekend. For now, Chelsea need to concentrate on getting a victory against Valencia in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.
There is no denying that Rudiger’s absence will be a big blow for the Pensioners and their chances to claim a positive result in midweek. Lampard will have to find a way to cope with the German’s unavailability by putting his faith on Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen.
