‘Liked to have won’ – West Ham United ace Declan Rice reacts to FWA awards announcement
West Ham star midfielder Declan Rice has reacted to his third-place finish in the Football Writers’ Associations Footballer of the Year awards.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah ran away with the prize with Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne finishing in second place.
The Hammers stalwart was evidently starstruck by being in the company of two of the world’s best players but insisted he has a lot more he can “let out the bag”.
He said as per Sky Sports: “Third – yeah not bad, not bad.
“I would have liked to have won it. Obviously, I’m up against Salah and De Bruyne.
“It is hard to say really because I can never really imagine myself putting my name with the two types of players and to come third shows people are appreciating what I have done on the football pitch.
“This season I feel like I have taken another step in the right direction in my career but I’m still only 23 and trust me, I know myself, I’ve got so much more that I can let out the bag.”
Recognition.
Third place is an unbelievable achievement. Rice shouldn’t only be looking at the players above him, he should look at some of the names he has beaten because there are some world-class players on that list.
To be named the third-best player in the Premier League is massive and the Londoner truly deserves it.
For a long time, it has only been the West Ham fans that have raved over the former Chelsea man but his impressive European Championship campaign with England has put him on the map which was probably a bad thing for the Irons with him now looking set to leave the club sooner rather than later.
He joked about wanting to win the award and whilst that is all fun and games – part of him genuinely thinks that.
The England international drive is second to none and that combined with undeniable quality will see him win the award one day.
In other West Ham news, Moyes is assessing his squad as he wants the “final say” on transfers according to reports by Sky Sports.
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