Joe Cole impressed by Rice in West Ham 2-0 win vs Rapid Vienna
Declan Rice capped an excellent performance with a goal during Thursday’s Europa League clash between West Ham and Rapid Vienna.
It was the England international midfielder’s second goal in as many European games for the Hammers, and Joe Cole was pleased to see his attacking instincts on display.
Rice’s opener and Said Benrahma’s late strike sealed valuable three points for David Moyes’ side, and the West Ham manager will be expecting more goals from the midfielder.
Cole reckons that could happen, telling BT Sport during the game: “He saw the space and he attacked it, and that’s a skill that certain midfielders have got.
“It’s something that can be learned. Some are more natural than others, but Declan Rice is just putting different parts of his game together. He’s evolving as a player.
“It was only two years ago that people were thinking, “oh, maybe he’s going to drop back into becoming a centre half”, and he’d probably be a top centre half.
“But he’s also got the ability to go the other way and score goals. He’s just a fantastic player and he’s really taken the team by the scruff of the neck over the last five or six games. I’ve watched him and he’s coming on bundles. He’s a pleasure to watch.”
Evolving
Rice is gradually becoming the complete package, and he could become frighteningly better over the coming months.
With two goals and two assists to his name in eight appearances so far in 2021-22, the West Ham ace is adding a new side to his game, and Moyes will be very pleased.
The midfielder showed great positioning to grab Thursday’s goal with the easiest of finishes, and the goal in the 2-0 win at Dinamo Zagreb highlighted his pace.
Rice ran all the way from inside his own half to double his side’s lead at Croatia, and his new-found attacking strength is great news for the Hammers.
He wants to be playing regularly in Europe, and while he has been continually linked with an exit, West Ham could be offering him more of the competition going forward.
Given their impressive start to the new season, the Hammers could be playing Champions League football next term.
That should boost their chances of holding on to their academy graduate, and anything is possible with this wonderful Moyes team.
In other West Ham news, Mark Noble has been spotted after a match embracing magic forward who quit Hammers in summer.
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