‘Controversial’: Sky Sports pundit puts 29-year-old Chelsea player in his PL team of the season over City star

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Brad Friedel has selected Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger in his Premier League team of the season over Manchester City star Ruben Dias.

Aged 29, Rudiger has proven this campaign he’s at the absolute peak of the powers.

The commanding defender has been an ever-present in Thomas Tuchel’s Blues XI on the left of the back three, physically dominating most attackers he’s faced.

Unfortunately, the brilliant German centre-back is leaving this summer when his contract expires.

Ex-Premier League goalkeeper Friedel, who was appearing as a pundit on Sky Sports, picked Rudiger alongside Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk as the centre-back pairing in his 2021/22 team of the year.

He admitted it was “controversial” to leave out 24-year-old Man City centre-half Dias, though.

“I put Rudiger in just ahead of [Ruben] Dias, that could be a little bit controversial, but I think he’s a very solid centre-back, Friedel said.

Rudiger belongs in TOTY

The eventual XI is going to be dominated by City and Liverpool players, but one Chelsea representative is definitely deserved.

Rudiger’s been so extremely consistent throughout the league season, as well as impressing across other cup competitions.

It’s quite telling that a lot of the Blues fanbase are already preparing themselves for the defence to fall apart without him next season.

Micah Richards has even mentioned Rudiger as a long shot for Premier League player of the season.

It’s hard to get past how well both City and Liverpool have defended this year, with both possession some incredible defensive players.

However, Blues centre-back Thiago Silva is another that must be in the conversation for best defender over the course of the season. The way he’s been performing at the age of 37 is remarkable.

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