Former West Ham midfielder Declan Rice is now a senior player for England

Declan Rice posts emotional message after West Ham United loss v Frankfurt

Fri 6 May 2022 7:10, UK

Declan Rice has delivered an emotional message to the West Ham fans after the Hammers bow out of the Europa League.

The Hammers midfielder said after the match it was “heartbreaking” after West Ham lost 3-1 on aggregate over two legs in the semi-final clash.

Rice has praised the “incredible” support of the fans and said that it was a learning curve for the team.

We win together. We lose together. So proud of this team, it wasn’t meant to be but that’s football, always a learning experience that in the end will work out right. Thank you to our fans who have been incredible during this journey. We go again Sunday❤️ @WestHam
— Declan Rice (@_DeclanRice) May 5, 2022

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Rice wrote on Twitter: “We win together. We lose together. So proud of this team, it wasn’t meant to be but that’s football, always a learning experience that in the end will work out right.

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“Thank you to our fans who have been incredible during this journey. We go again Sunday.”

"It’s heartbreaking. There’s something special about West Ham fans. How much they care about you, how they treat you. I’m proud to play in front of them. It’s not meant to be, but a big thank you for your support.”

An emotional Declan Rice at full-time: pic.twitter.com/lsRHyouJ0A
— West Ham United (@WestHam) May 5, 2022

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Proud

Only two seasons ago, West Ham were fighting for survival in the Premier League, and now they have played in the semi-final of a major European tournament.

These boys have made everyone proud despite the defeat. It’s been an amazing journey, and Rice has rightly said that it’s a learning experience for the club.

After losing 2-1 in the first leg at Frankfurt, West Ham needed to produce a strong result away from home.

However, the night turned into a nightmare after Aaron Cresswell was shown the marching orders.

Cresswell pulled down Jens Petter Hauge, who would have been through on goal. Initially, he was shown a yellow card but it was upgraded to a red card following a VAR check.

Rafael Borre hammered home from Ansgar Knauff’s low ball, and from there on it became really difficult for the Hammers to get back into the game.

However, they fought bravely till the end and didn’t give up. It ends in heartbreak, but it’s been a remarkable journey.

The Hammers will have to pick themselves up quickly and focus on their next game. They cannot miss out on European football next season.

In other West Ham news, a BBC pundit has urged West Ham to sign a £40million rated Chelsea wantaway, saying he would be a “great fit”.

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