Declan Rice silenced Graeme Souness with two outstanding performances in Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.
Rice’s remarkable display earned him two Player of the Match titles as Arsenal stunned the European champions and progressed to the semi-finals.
His incredible free-kicks in the first leg at Emirates Stadium set the tone, proving essential in the overall victory, while he continued to play a pivotal role at the Bernabeu.
Rio Ferdinand and Ally McCoist both lauded Rice for ‘taking charge’ during the matches, shortly after Souness expressed skepticism about Rice’s “world-class” status.
In a column for the Daily Mail made between the matches, Souness remarked, “While Declan Rice has a lot to offer, we should temper our enthusiasm and not label anyone ‘world-class’ based solely on two free-kicks against Real Madrid.” He added a reminder of the need for perspective in evaluating players and mentioned that too much excitement can lead to hasty judgments.
Rice Elevated After Stellar Performances
Ferdinand noted that Rice has now stepped into a higher echelon after his impressive Champions League performances. “You need experiences like this to truly gauge a player’s abilities,” he said. “Rice not only competed; he dominated the field in both matches.”
Respected Arsenal figure Ian Wright also praised Rice, emphasizing that his performances against Real Madrid have put to rest any doubts about his capabilities. Wright remarked, “Declan Rice demonstrated his quality and has continually improved in every position he has played. He is among the top three midfielders globally right now.”
As Rice approaches his 100th appearance for Arsenal after joining from West Ham for £105 million in 2023, he and the team prepare for a semi-final showdown with PSG, who have recently eliminated both Aston Villa and Liverpool.
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