Antonio Rudiger said Timo Werner’s pace could be a real problem for Manchester City during the Champions League final with Chelsea.
Speaking to Kicker, Rudiger was looking ahead to the hotly anticipated European showdown on Saturday evening.
Chelsea have defeated City twice heading into the weekend’s match, an advantage Thomas Tuchel will try to use in his favour.
In the FA Cup victory especially, the Blues matched Pep Guardiola’s side superbly through swift counter attacks.
Leading their charge was Werner, who’s relentless running has been a nuisance to defences all season long.
Werner the whippet
Rudiger thought City’s approach could play into Chelsea’s hands thanks to the quickness of his German teammate.
“Manchester City know that we have the confidence to do something with the ball,” said the defender.
“We like it when we’re pressed.
“When we break free, for example, Timo Werner’s great strength, his speed, really comes into its own.
“I want to see the player who then beats him in a 50-meter sprint.”
Trying to tie down Timo
For all his troubles in the final third, there can be no question over Werner’s sprinting abilities.
Very few have been able to keep up with the 25-year-old once he’s in flight, a weapon that could be so crucial against City’s generally high-line.
Guardiola will be all to aware of Chelsea’s threat on the turnover, having suffered already at the expensive of Tuchel’s tactics.
The Spanish coach could make the argument he was without his first-choice centre-back pairing – John Stones and Ruben Dias – for either loss.
Both Stones and Dias should return if fit, giving Werner and co. a slightly more difficult task to overcome.
But if they can repeat their domestic victories over the Premier League champions, then European glory will be heading back to London.
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