Rudiger: Tuchel's back three suits me;

Chelsea's defence have become difficult to break down since switching to a back three under Tuchel, whose side top the league before visiting Newcastle on Saturday, and Rüdiger has been exceptional as the left-sided centre-back.

“I played back three under [Antonio] Conte at Chelsea," Rüdiger told the Guardian. “I played back four with [Maurizio] Sarri, which was a good season. If there is a clear plan in what you are doing, it doesn't matter if it's a back three or a four.

“It's about structure. This what I have to give full credit to the manager for. Sometimes it's a back three, but sometimes I end up pressing up front, so all of a sudden it's a not a back three, it's a back four. It's an odd way of his! But we concede less, which is good.

“When we had those runs where you're not conceding, you start thinking about it. Before, it was not the case. We didn't have many clean sheets. For a defender there's nothing more important than a clean sheet."

Rüdiger's game has developed under Tuchel.

“When I was younger I wasn't normally the player who runs forward with the ball," he says. “I can do it but it's more for me about the defensive aspect. I like to press high. Pressing is in my DNA. The coach gave me the freedom to do so because this is what he expects."