Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger admits he was not too surprised to see Thomas Tuchel prematurely sacked by Chelsea.
Rudiger was at the Stamford Bridge club for several seasons before leaving for Real on a free transfer in the summer.
During his time at the club, he won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup with Tuchel as manager.
Speaking to The Guardian, Rudiger stated: “I have good memories and friends from there but life goes on.
“All the questions that came up, the way he handled himself, I think you couldn’t have done it better.
“He took a lot of pressure from a lot of people away. Not only us players. You heard a lot from him. I think it was a very tiring situation for him.
“You have to focus on your job as a manager and then you have all these political questions you have to answer. He was unbelievable.”
Rudiger continued: “It hit me. What he achieved in the club, even if it was under the old regime, it was a shock. He gets players that he wants and then all of a sudden he’s gone.
“But it’s Chelsea. It’s also somehow not a surprise. I messaged him and said: ‘Thank you very much for everything you did.’ Not only for me but for all of us. Without him winning the Champions League was a bit far away.
“Chelsea was a chapter on its own,” he added.
“It was great, great, great. But Real Madrid is the elite club in football. This says it all: in the past nine years winning five Champions Leagues.”
