Rudiger admits 'no player on Earth' would be happy with Chelsea run under Sarri
Antonio Rudiger admits "no player on Earth" would like to have been involved in Chelsea's recent poor run of results under Maurizio Sarri.
The Blues have won only two of their past five games in all competitions, losing 4-0 to Bournemouth, 6-0 to Manchester City and 2-0 to Manchester United.
Their FA Cup exit at home to United on Monday prompted some fans to turn against Sarri, who reportedly requires positive results against Malmo in the Europa League on Thursday and City in the EFL Cup final on Sunday to save his job.
While Rudiger says the squad is playing for Sarri, he concedes it is essential for results to improve.
Asked about the rumours around the head coach's future, he told a news conference: "I make nothing of that. At the end of the day, this is not my thing. I'm a football player, and that's it.
"I'm not the coach. I'm a football player. [The system] is something the coach has to decide and we have to follow.
"You always play for your manager, but you want results. You want to win. No player on Earth likes to have the kind of run we've had."
2 - Chelsea only attempted two shots on target in this match against Manchester United, with both coming in the 11th minute of the tie. Blunt. #CHEMUN pic.twitter.com/95PtgCX6bU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 18, 2019
Sarri has been criticised for perceived tactical stubbornness but Rudiger claims Chelsea's problems are more about mentality.
"It's all based on results," he said. "When we had the results, no one was talking about the things we're talking about today.
"We are always working in training, trying to do better each day. I think, right now, it's about confidence. It's not a tactical aspect, in my view. It's confidence. We're under-performing."
Rudiger also denied a lack of leadership within the squad is exacerbating the problems.
"People like to say that because we had leaders before here at this club," he said. "That's also fair enough. But we were not talking about leaders when we were having an unbeaten run. It all seems as if it's based on results. If you have the results, we're not speaking about leaders.
"Sometimes it's also hard to replace people like John Terry, who was captain here and a leader. It's hard. You cannot cook a leader these days. But, at the end of the day, we have to try to follow in the footsteps of these players.
"It's always important that the supporters are with us. Sometimes, for example at City, you can understand that they are furious. But at the end of the day, the emotions of the fans, I cannot do anything about that. No player can.
"What we can do is get back results, then they'll always be behind us. They still come to the stadium and support us, so they are behind us. It's based on our performances and the results we give. Then we will always have them behind us."
Chelsea won 2-1 at Malmo in the first leg of their last-32 tie and they are expected to progress to the next round on Thursday.
Rudiger, though, thinks the EFL Cup showdown with City will show how good they really are.
"It's important for us to stay in this [Europa League] competition and fight to win it, definitely," he added. "Then, on Sunday, a big game against City at Wembley. That will show the truth. That will show our way this season."