Tomas Soucek shares admission about Declan Rice after West Ham United win v Gent
West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek admitted teammate Declan Rice scores goals as he did against Gent on Thursday [20 April] regularly in training.
West Ham booked a Europa Conference League semi-final clash with AZ Alkmaar after a rousing comeback against Gent at London Stadium and Rice’s goal to put them 3-1 proved the pick of the goals.
The exit-linked England international produced a cool finish following a tremendous mazy run that began in his own half and Soucek admitted it’s the kind of goals he scores in training and that he’s happy gets to play alongside him.
Speaking after the game [via The Athletic, 20 April], he said: “Rice can score goals like that and sometimes, he does it in training.
“It’s great how much he’s improved since I joined the club. He’s so young but continues to show what he can do week in, and week out.
“Hopefully he can keep doing well for the team. I’m just happy I get to play next to him.”
What a player
The kind of performances Declan Rice has performed for West Ham United on a consistent basis since his emergence in the team at the London Stadium, and it’s so easy to see why he is the most coveted midfielder player on the continent.
Top elite sides love midfielders who can not only do the dirty work but can also become an influential outlet in the final third and Rice is amongst the best around at doing just that – for both club and country. He’s a tremendous footballer and a player continually on an upward trajectory.
The East Londoners are certainly resigned to losing Rice this summer with Arsenal looking like his most likely destination which could come as some cause of disappointment from some of the West Ham United faithful but they would be absolutely delighted if their homegrown talent can win them a first European trophy since the 1965 Cup Winners cup – an achievement which could set him into West Ham folklore.
Though the Irons certainly have no say in his potential destination, they do have a huge say as to how much any interested party will pay for Rice’s services and it is crucially vital that West Ham United try and recoup as much as they can to fund their a hugely important major rebuild this summer.
They may not find any like Rice, though.