Ahead of Germany's upcoming UEFA Europa League quarterfinal against Spain, Germany's central midfielder Toni Kroos and his brother, Felix Kroos, shared their thoughts on Germany's defensive great Rüdiger on a podcast.
Kroos began by talking about Rüdiger's performance on the pitch, and he was outspoken about the fact that a lot of forward players don't want to play against Rüdiger. He explained, "This is because things tend to get very tricky against Rüdiger. Rüdiger is a very good player with his own way of playing, the kind of toughness and aggression that gives strikers headaches." However, Kroos also emphasized that while Rüdiger may put his opponents under a lot of pressure on the field, he is a great guy in private.
Felix Kroos then shared an anecdote between himself and Rüdiger when he was playing for Werder Bremen. He recalled, "I was still playing for Werder Bremen and Rüdiger was at Stuttgart. One time we met in a game and Rüdiger was already 'verbally attacking' me before the corner was even kicked off. I had just walked into the penalty area and before I could make a move, I heard him 'swearing' at me. I was really confused and thought what's wrong with this guy? But in retrospect, I think it's actually part of Rüdiger's style of play, he always maintains that strong sense of competitiveness and fighting spirit on the field, and that's something I really admire."
It is easy to see how tough and dominant Rüdiger was on the pitch through the Kroos brothers' account. He inspires his teammates in his own way, and at the same time puts a lot of pressure on his opponents. However, off the field, Rüdiger is a friendly and polite person, which contrasts with his image on the field. This contrast not only makes Rüdiger more three-dimensional and vivid, but also makes him an indispensable member of the German team.
For the upcoming Europa League quarterfinals, Germany will need a player like Rüdiger to stabilize the back four, and at the same time, he will need to show the kind of fearless and courageous spirit on the field. I believe that with the support of Kroos and other teammates, Rüdiger will be able to play well in the game and contribute to the victory of the German team.
