Paul Merson gives unlikely reasons for Rudiger departure | OneFootball

Paul Merson’s column on Sky Sports this week is all about Antonio Rudiger, and the former player ends up blaming Frank Lampard for the fact that the defender has left.

Rudiger lost his place under Lampard, and Merson says it was then that the Germany international’s mind was made up that he wanted to leave.

It seems more to us like Merson is projecting his own bitterness onto Rudiger.

First of all, let’s get this clear – Rudiger was dreadful in that spell under Lampard that saw him dropped, and neither he nor any fans could have too many complaints.

Secondly, even if the centre back was angry at Lampard, once he had played 18 brilliant months under Tuchel and won the Champions League, it seems unlikely he would been motivated entirely by spite towards a coach who was no longer at the club.

Tuchel brought him into the team and made him a key man and a leader of the squad – if Rudiger still wanted to go, it seems unlikely to be based on a year old grudge.