Antonio Rudiger has become the new poster boy of Chelsea’s era of uncertainty

Antonio Rudiger was designed to be popular with Chelsea supporters.

The way he sprints back and dives into a challenge like a bodyguard throwing himself in the way of a Hollywood president. How he rises for headers, perfectly prepared and just as perfectly delighted to knock over anything in his path.

His roars of appreciation, as if celebrating the conquering of a new land. If any other defender repeatedly shot high and wide from 30 yards, it would provoke groans. With Rudiger, they urge him on every time.

Rudiger is Chelsea’s totemic leader, the man for big games at the club that excel in them.

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Until Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this Chelsea era was defined by their cup success. They have not finished in the Premier League’s top two since Rudiger joined and haven’t got within 18 points of first place.

They have taken three more league points at home than Everton this season. No matter: they have reached nine cup finals and won more than half of them – FA Cup, Europa League, Champions League, Uefa Super Cup, Fifa Club World Cup.

According to German newspaper Bild, Rudiger was ready to sign a new contract at Stamford Bridge in February. The details had been agreed to extend his stay beyond this summer, making club, agent and player happy or rich or both.

And then a war began, sanctions were imposed and Chelsea became unable to offer anyone a new contract. That makes it likely that Rudiger leaves on a free transfer. Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are two of the predictable potential suitors.

Chelsea’s ownership saga has become a messy, drip-fed, distastefully public process. Counter-leaks follow leaks as parties fight for PR ground with supporters and merchant bank Raine Group, who are overseeing the sale.

On Thursday morning we were told that Lewis Hamilton and Serena Williams have been persuaded to make financial contributions to Sir Martin Broughton’s bid. Every day brings new detail that does little to clarify the situation and everything to complicate it.

It is too simplistic to conclude that off-field maelstrom makes a team concede eight goals against Brentford and Arsenal. Andreas Christensen doesn’t fluff his back-pass on Wednesday because he’s thinking about whether he will join Barcelona.

But the mood must make a difference. Thomas Tuchel doesn’t know which players he can keep, which positions he can improve or who his boss will be next season. Chelsea’s supporters are also in a state of perma-angst, demonstrated in the angry exchange with Cesar Azpilicueta post-match.

Rudiger’s contract limbo also sets the tone for Chelsea’s next 12 months. In June 2023, N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago will all become free agents. The first two of those could well be the subject of interest this summer that will test Chelsea’s appetite to risk contracts running down and valuable assets leaving for free. And to repeat the point, they cannot yet offer new deals.

That clearout may well be easy to stomach (even if Kante’s impact is irreplaceable). Chelsea have had the seventh oldest average starting XI in the Premier League this season and all four of those aforementioned players are aged 30 or above. Conor Gallagher is one player who Chelsea can assimilate into the first-team squad for free and an injection of youth is no bad thing.

But the powerlessness is sapping. It erodes Chelsea’s ability to plan. There should be little sympathy for the club – these are the risks you take when you welcome an oligarch, but it is deeply unhelpful for them. We do not know who their next owners will be.

We do not know if their recruitment guru (Marina Granovskaia) will stay – she is a close acolyte of Roman Abramovich. We do not know what the strategy of the new owners is and we do not know what funds will be.

There are demonstrable differences in Chelsea now from two months ago: the empty seats, the name of their now former owner that was sung in small sections but has thankfully dissipated, a consummate calm that has seeped away. But we are only seeing the first wave of changes. Rudiger’s departure, Chelsea able to do nothing while the vultures circle, would mark the start of the second.

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