Manchester City and Real Madrid are set to face off in the Champions League quarter-finals, renewing the rivalry between Erling Haaland and Antonio Rudiger. The Real Madrid defender has issued a warning to Haaland, declaring that their battle on the pitch is personal.
Rudiger successfully nullified Haaland’s threat in a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu last season during the semi-final stage. However, he was left out of the return leg, which City won 4-0. In their previous encounter, Rudiger employed various tactics to keep Haaland at bay, including physicality and strategic positioning.
Reflecting on their previous clash, Rudiger expressed confidence in his ability to once again limit Haaland’s impact. He highlighted the importance of controlling dangerous players like Haaland and revealed that he will approach their duel personally.
Rudiger acknowledged that Haaland is one of the strongest strikers in the game and emphasized the need to not only contain him but also cut off the supply of passes from his teammates.
The German international is determined to do whatever it takes to keep Haaland quiet and give Real Madrid the best chance of advancing in the competition. He dismissed any notion of premeditation in his tactics, stating that it is simply a result of the moment and his defensive instincts.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
