Antonio Rudiger injury: Progress and potential return for Real Madrid defender
Carlo Ancelotti often falls back upon the same description of Antonio Rudiger, invariably hailing the centre-back as «a warrior».
Schooled on the concrete pitches of south Berlin, Rudiger was likened to one of the most famous warriors with his childhood nickname 'Rambo'. Yet, Ancelotti's trusted soldier has been sidelined in the sick bay over recent weeks.
Real Madrid are already without the two centre-backs that started the 2022 Champions League final. Eder Militao tore his ACL in the first game of the season and has been joined by David Alaba in the treatment room since the Austria international suffered the same season-ending injury in December.
Ancelotti insisted Madrid didn't need to recruit another central defender during the January transfer window only to watch Rudiger pull up with a rare fitness complaint on Deadline Day.
Here's the latest updates on Ancelotti's wounded warrior.
After a typically combative first half against Jose Bordalas' Getafe at the start of February, Rudiger did not reemerge for the second half of a 2-0 win.
Ancelotti was initially optimistic, predicting: «I think Rudiger can recover, he has a strong blow and we will see how he is in the next few days.» Real were preparing for the fourth Madrid derby of the season and Ancelotti was confident his strapping centre-back would be available. «We have a few days to recover it,» the Italian noted. «Rudiger is a warrior and it is difficult for him to miss the derby due to a small annoyance.»
Yet, Rudiger was nowhere to be seen for the 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu. Defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni replaced Rudiger in the second half against Getafe but was suspended for the derby, forcing right-back Dani Carvajal into a particularly diminutive defence.
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