Graeme Le Saux says Antonio Rudiger has an ‘intense’ approach on the pitch which is similar to that of Chelsea legend John Terry.
Germany international Rudiger was left out in the cold by manager Frank Lampard, but has completely turned the corner since Thomas Tuchel’s arrival.
The 28-year-old was vital in the Blues’ run to Champions League glory last season and has started the new campaign in a similarly strong vein of form.
Rudiger’s excellent performances have attracted widespread praise, with former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand branding him as the Premier League’s best centre-back since Tuchel took over at Stamford Bridge.
And ex-Blues left-back Le Saux sees similarities between Rudiger and his former teammate Terry in terms of their intensity and dominance on the pitch.
‘Rudiger is in his prime, someone who is so energetic and angry all the time — a good angry,’ Le Saux told The Athletic.
‘He bangs into people and looks at them as if to say, “You want some?”. He’s intense.
‘JT was like that. He’d dominate opponents. When he went on the pitch, it was as if he got bigger, taller, wider.’
On Chelsea’s defence, which has conceded just three goals this season, Le Saux said: ‘If you look at any team that is succeeding defensively, you see that unity during and after a match.
‘They celebrate if they keep a clean sheet. There is pride in achieving that, at building a real resistance.
‘The defensive momentum, clean sheet after clean sheet, win after win, strengthens that bond.’
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