Unless Maurizio Sarri has a total personality change overnight, Antonio Rudiger will start tomorrow against West Ham.
The German defender played last weekend against Cardiff, as he has in every Premier League game so far, and in midweek in Greece.
He’s an ever present for Sarri, and there’s no doubt that he’s established himself as top centre back now.
A year on from his arrival, he has clambered past Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Andreas Christensen in the pecking order to make himself top dog.
He’s showing his skills with his feet, he’s a potent weapon in the air, and he’s gaining consistency and tactical discipline with every start he has. The physical and technical tools aren’t in doubt.
There’s still potential in him, but it’s all mental, and there’s no telling just how good he could get. If he’s willing to keep working and learning, he could be a stalwart at Chelsea and for Germany for a long time.
