Tuchel claims Rudiger ‘underestimated impact’ of Real Madrid talks on Chelsea performances

Thomas Tuchel believes Antonio Rudiger and other departing Chelsea stars may have “underestimated the impact” of negotiating a move away from Stamford Bridge, but insists they will desperate to sign off in style.

Rudiger is understood to have agreed full terms with Real Madrid, with Los Blancos poised to announce his free-transfer Bernabeu Stadium switch once the season is complete.

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The 29-year-old will bring down the curtain on five years at Chelsea in the next two weeks, with the Blues still chasing a third-place Premier League finish and contesting the FA Cup final with Liverpool.

Andreas Christensen is understood to be headed to Barcelona on a free too, with the Blues losing two experienced centre-backs this summer.

Tuchel admitted the departing players failed to appreciate the effect their impending exits would have on the Stamford Bridge squad, but backed Rudiger and Christensen to drive back to top form to complete the campaign.

Asked if the leaving players are determined to finish their west London stints on a high, Tuchel replied: “I’m absolutely convinced that they want that. Maybe they underestimated the impact that decisions to sign for another club have, the impact that it has.

“I have the feeling that they experience it now themselves, but that they don’t want this and they don’t do it intentionally, but this is the case, we feel that it is different, a different approach to the games.

“Maybe these kind of shock experiences are necessary to really wake up and not go out of the season like this.

“Toni (Rudiger) is important. You never finish with development and this is a key moment for his personal career. He