Antonio Rudiger has said Chelsea are the "underdogs" for their Champions League final showdown with Manchester City on Saturday evening.
Rudiger has been one of the stars since Thomas Tuchel took over from Frank Lampard in January - which has seen the Blues become one of the Premier League's strongest sides.
Despite this - and with two wins over City in their last two games - the German defender believes Manchester outfit will be favourites for the final, following their breathtaking season.
City comfortably won the Premier League and have already secured the Carabao Cup, as they seek a treble of trophies.
Speaking to the Mirror, Rudiger said: “If you play against this City side or Real Madrid with their experienced players and they’ve won so many trophies, it’s normal that you are the underdog.
“City are a top team, they have shown it for years and they are a great side. But we managed to beat them twice this season and it will be an interesting game. Definitely. Maybe it will be in their heads, I don’t know, but 100 per cent it will be interesting.
“If we look back at the season, Brighton, Southampton or even Leeds, and everyone was saying they are must-win games and yet we dropped points.
“Then, on the other hand, when we played even Man City, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, people said it would be tough for Chelsea and the underdog role suits us very well.
“Somehow it takes the pressure away from you because people expect you to fail, to lose and then you turn around those expectations.”
Rudiger also spoke about how winning the Champions League can play a massive role in the development of the younger players in the squad.
The 28-year-old said: “We are in a revolution. Since last season, a lot of young players came through and they are still adapting and obviously they are doing very well for themselves and for the team.
“But they are not getting younger, they are growing and, at the end of the day, I’m sure Chelsea will get back to that role.”
