Real madrid's rüdiger defends controversial foul on getafe's rico

Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger has denied any malicious intent behind his contentious foul on Diego Rico in a recent La Liga match.

Rüdiger insists he meant no harm

In the aftermath of the incident, Rüdiger maintained that he simply wanted to win the ball back and never intended to harm his opponent. 'If I had meant to foul him with intent, he would have been seriously injured and wouldn't have been able to get back up,' Rüdiger argued.

The German defender went on to emphasize the importance of context, suggesting that a single still image doesn't always tell the full story. 'I do like to play with a bit of intensity, but I have my limits and I never cross them,' he added.

With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Rüdiger remained tight-lipped about his future at Real Madrid. 'For me, the most important thing is to stay fit and healthy. I feel great at the moment and I'm sure we'll find a solution. I love Real Madrid and I love being here,' he stated.

As Real Madrid prepares to face Manchester City in the ChampionsLeague quarterfinals, Rüdiger warned against underestimating the English giants. 'I've experienced many games like this before. We won the Champions League with Real for exactly these kinds of moments. City are one of the best teams in Europe, and if you want to win the competition, you have to be ready to face them,' he said.