ANTONIO RUDIGER did not wear a face mask in yesterday’s 2-1 pre-season win over Chelsea rivals Arsenal.
The German defender started yesterday’s game against Arsenal and put in a good 45 minute performance.
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But Rudiger wasn’t wearing his iconic face mask which he wore for three long months as a result of a nasty facial injury.
The German picked up the injury in Chelsea’s 1-1 first leg Champions League draw with Real Madrid.
And even wore the black mask in Chelsea’s Champions League final win against Premier League winners Manchester City.
He also wore it at Euro 2020, where he claimed you have to be “a little dirty”
He said: “[The mask is] still there for protection. I’ll have to see what the Chelsea doctors say when I get back to London.
“We have to be a little dirty, not always be nice or try to play nice football.
“Against players like them, you have to throw down a marker.”
Sadly, Rudiger’s run of wearing the mask came to an end when Germany played England at Euro 2020 in the Round of 16.
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England came out 2-0 victors, spelling the end of the German wearing the mask.
He’s been given the all-clear by Chelsea’s doctors to not wear the mask with the Premier League season set to start in just under two weeks time.
The Blues will host Patrick Vieira’s new-look Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, August 14.
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