Photo: Chelsea FC
After a long period of inactivity (publicly, at least), Chelsea finally made this transfer window count with the signing of Germany international, Antonio Rudiger over the weekend. The deal is reportedly in the region of £34 million for five years.
Rudiger leaves Roma after helping them to a Champions League place and Germany to the Confederations cup title early July. The interesting bit of it all is he’s still young. He’s only 24, and has plenty of life to give out in him. The excitement of his arrival should at least bring some consolation to fans who have been displeased with the lack of reasonable signings so far. However, while we celebrate Rudiger’s arrival, perhaps we should also talk about what it means for our defence.
Obviously, the club wouldn’t have paid that sum for a player they do not intend to use, unless he has a hard time adapting, although I doubt that. So it’s now a matter of who will make way for Antonio Rudiger in the Chelsea defence.
Azpilicueta and David Luiz were near impeccable last season, as was Cahill, however, it would seem that the latter is the most dispensable of them all. He was good for most of last season overall, but there still were lapses in his game. He seems the obvious weak link there and barring any pre-season improvements, he may play second fiddle come next season.
It’s a sad thing for anyone in football to experience of course, but then, it’s the way the game is run. It’s about results, and to get them, you need the best legs and hands you can get. If it were another coach, there perhaps would have been hope of Cahill getting some time ahead of any other player, no matter how good, but Conte has shown over and over again he’s only cut out for results. If he can cut out the likes of John Terry, Mikel Obi, and recently Diego Costa, then his intentions need no further interpretation. He is a man of results, and as long as he gets them, it doesn’t matter who is sacrificed.
Like I mentioned, this is exactly what the game is about, and no matter how sad the story ends for whoever suffers for Rudiger’s arrival, I am sure they too would understand.
