Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger has declared his readiness to face Kylian Mbappe in a potential Champions League final showdown, promising a competitive battle despite their anticipated future as teammates.
With Rudiger’s Real Madrid and Mbappe’s Paris Saint-Germain both in adjacent semi-finals of the Champions League, there’s a possibility they could meet in the final. Rudiger’s side drew 2-2 away to Bayern Munich in their first leg, while PSG visited Borussia Dortmund for their clash.
Ahead of the Bayern game, Rudiger expressed his determination, stating, “If we face him in the final, we’ll beat him. And if he passes [dribbles] me, I’ll smash him.” Despite the fierce declaration, Rudiger acknowledged Mbappe’s talent, recognizing him as “one of the best players in the world.”
Regarding Mbappe’s speculated move to Real Madrid, Rudiger remained coy, quipping, “Who says that he’s coming? It’s not official.” Nonetheless, Rudiger has shown confidence in facing top strikers, having already neutralized Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski in recent matches.
Reflecting on their potential matchup, Rudiger highlighted their previous encounter during an international friendly between Germany and France, where Germany emerged victorious 2-0. However, he dismissed claims of having Mbappe “in his pocket,” deeming such talk disrespectful.
Looking ahead, Rudiger’s focus is on the second-leg clash with Bayern, aiming to prevent Harry Kane from scoring after a hard-fought draw in Munich. With Vinicius Junior’s late penalty leveling the score, the upcoming match in Madrid promises to be intense, with the winner advancing to face either Mbappe’s PSG or Dortmund in the final.
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