Add as preferred source on Google

Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger has claimed that Aston Villa duo Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa are two players that have massively impressed him this season.

Chelsea’s 28-year-old centre-back Rudiger, who is also a senior Germany international, was asked about the best performing players in the Premier League right now in his position.

The Mings-Konsa defensive combination is one that has been key in success for Dean Smith’s side this campaign.

Left-footed centre-back Mings, 28, is an extremely authoritative figure at the back with his brute strength and leadership.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old centre-half partner is the younger of the duo that looks a star in the making.

He’s a defender that is extremely comfortable with the ball at his feet, but still loves the ugly defensive side of the game.

Rudiger highlighted the Villa duo when discussing the league’s best centre-backs this season.

“Ruben Dias and John Stones, you have to give credit to them because at the moment they are the best [centre-backs in the Premier League],” Rudiger said.

“There is a lot, you have Harry Maguire. For me, Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa, they are doing very well too.”

TBR’s View:

Mings has been included in this month’s England squad, and it looks like he’s got a great chance of going to this summer’s European Championships.

If England boss Gareth Southgate is assessing his options in defence, surely centre-back partner Konsa can’t be far away from a first senior call-up.

He’s been performing at such a high level this season in the Premier League.

Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has understandably got a lot of credit for the clean sheets the team have racked up this season, but at the heart of that has been two committed centre-backs.