Suarez is a pain in the a**, claims Rudiger, but he admits he relishes challenge

Antonio Rudiger claims Luis Suarez is 'a pain in the a**' when he has to face him on the pitch.

The Chelsea defender clashed with his Atletico Madrid counterpart in the first leg of the club's last 16 Champions League tie in Bucharest, before Olivier Giroud's winner saw the Blues take a decisive lead back to west London.

Replays of the duo's incident showed Suarez tried to grab Rudiger, which resulted in the two squaring up to each other.

But ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge, Rudiger said Suarez was a 'tough' opponent but insisted it is the type of challenge he relishes on the field.

'A tough player to play against, but I like these types of challenges,' Rudiger told BT Sport.

'This guy is a pain in the a**, but he is still a world class player. To battle against a player like him for me is joy, this is why I play football.

'We all don't like when things are going badly, but this is a challenge to yourself, you have to challenge yourself always.

'I always say that I am very, very happy to fight for this badge, but I am enjoying this moment, it is very nice.'