Real Madrid News
Schweinsteiger defends Real Madrid star after Germany World Cup exit
Germany’s 4-2 win over Costa Rica last night was not enough to seal qualification to the Round of 16. Thanks to Japan’s win over Spain, the Germans ended up third in the group.
This is the second time in a row Die Mannschaft have been eliminated from the group stages of the World Cup. And in light of the result, German footballing legend Bastian Schweinsteiger has voiced his displeasure with the result.
Schweinsteiger has taken a tig at the German defenders, in particular, as the team has collectively conceded five goals in three matches. But the former Bayern Munich midfielder, though, has praised Antonio Rudiger, labeling him as the only good defender in the team.
“We have only one high-level defender and that is Antonio Rudiger,” he told ARD (h/t DW Sports).
Widely considered one of the best German midfielders of the 21st century, Schweinsteiger went on to criticize the other defenders in the squad, suggesting that they lack the experience and exposure to high-level football.
“The others are all just Bundesliga quality,” he remarked. Schweinsteiger’s comments come in the midst of widespread criticism over the performances of some of the German defenders including Borussia Dortmund duo Niklas Sule and Nico Schlotterbeck.
Rudiger, on the other hand, was one of the consistent performers over the past three matches, using his experience and leadership qualities to steady the ship at the back. However, he did have a few sloppy moments against Costa Rica last night.
But with Germany eliminated, the former Chelsea center-back is set for an early return to the Real Madrid camp. He is set to accompany Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard, whose Belgium side was also eliminated following a draw with Croatia.
There is no way back for Eden Hazard at Real Madrid. The Belgian international has not given the management any reason to have faith in his abilities over his past four seasons at the club and is unsurprisingly the most important departure for the Merengues in the summer.
Hazard has one more year on his contract in Madrid. However, it is clear that Carlo Ancelotti does not trust him and that any potential replacement manager in the summer will echo his stance.
According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, Fenerbahce are willing to go all out to sign Hazard this summer. The Turkish side have made the former Chelsea their prime target, yet face a steep task ahead of them.
The 32-year-old is hellbent on seeing out his contract with Los Blancos despite seeing his career sink right before his eyes. It thus becomes complicated for the party to lure away the forward, especially in a competition outside Europe’s top five leagues.
Fenerbahce attempted to sign the winger in the recently concluded winter transfer market. They reached an agreement with Real Madrid but failed to get over the line as they could not convince the player of the move.
The biggest obstacle for the Turkish side will be convincing Hazard to make the move by letting go of his lucrative contract in Madrid. The chances are slim, but not impossible.
Hazard has made just three league appearances and one start for Ancelotti’s side this season in La Liga, a steep fall from last season’s 18 and seven respectively.
His last appearance for the team came back in January when Real Madrid faced Cacereno in the Copa del Rey. In La Liga however, he last played in September 2022 in a 4-1 win over Mallorca.
