Nobody bigger than Chelsea – Tuchel sends message to this defender

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has sent a message to his fellow countryman and Blues defender Antonio Rudiger ahead of his likely departure from Stamford Bridge.

So far, the report revealed that Chelsea are yet to reach new agreements with Rudiger as a report claimed the last time a discussion was held for a possible contract extension was in August.

Spanish club Real Madrid are said to be leading the race for Rudiger.

While Rudiger is reportedly asking for a £200,000-a-week offer from Chelsea, which is more than double his current £90,000-a-week wage, Spanish side Real Madrid are ready to offer him £400k him one of the world’s best-paid defenders.

Chelsea are understood to have offered him £140,000 a week but he turned it down.

Reacting to Rudiger’s future, Tuchel stressed the Germany international’s importance to the team, he also warned that the club must come first.

“It is super important and as I understood, like myself and everybody else, we absolutely accept the importance, we are fully aware of the importance of Toni and the role he is playing on and off the pitch. There is no doubt in that,” Tuchel told reporters.

“And yes it is true nobody is bigger than a club, nobody is. This is a team effort, it is a team game, it is a strong club and it is also about the club.

“It is not about me, it is not only about Toni — and I mean that in the best way because we know what he is doing and we are fully aware of it. In the end, we need a bit of patience. I have no update right now.”