Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice: ‘That trophy and seeing PSG lift it, that stays with you’
Declan Rice insists he is ready to put another marathon season behind him and help Arsenal make another serious Champions League challenge after admitting the pain of last season’s final defeat by Paris Saint-Germain still burns.
Rice played an extraordinary 69 games for club and country last season, including the World Cup, but says a complete three-week break this summer has left him feeling refreshed and ready to go again.
“For the last six seasons, even since my West Ham days when it was in Europe, I’ve played 60-plus every season,” Rice said after Arsenal’s 1-0 Champions League victory over Napoli.
“So I think it is sustainable because I’ve shown that I can do it. It’s just about maintaining it, maintaining the level and the consistency of the performances.
“For me, that’s the main thing, showing up every week, giving a good account of myself and helping the team win. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to do that. So I’m really hungry to be able to do that again this season.”
The 27-year-old admitted last season’s relentless schedule had taken its toll, particularly during England’s World Cup campaign, where he was managing a neural hamstring problem.
“It was tough,” he said. “Everyone knew I had an issue with a neural hamstring. But also on top of the Premier League season, which was so demanding, the Champions League, to then play a World Cup in that heat really does take its toll.
“I’m a player that goes on the pitch, wants to be fresh and give 100 per cent every time I put on an England shirt. There were stages where I felt really, really good and stages where I didn’t feel I was good.
“In the summer, I just took time off. I took three complete weeks off. I didn’t do anything. Let it really rest, let it settle down and come back refreshed, feeling ready, ready to go again.
“I feel really good at the minute, in really good form. So we’ll make it continue.”
Rice was equally enthused by the return to form of Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, who has already scored three times this season – four including the Community Shield – after an injury-hit last campaign.
“The quality has always been there. It’s never been a question,” Rice said.
“Last year, to have two shoulder injuries like he did, to have an MCL injury like he did, is tough for any player. But you see him at the World Cup and how he started this year. That’s the Martin we know and we love.
“Three goals. He’s our captain. So we need to keep giving him the ball and letting him make stuff happen.”
Rice was also nominated for the Ballon d’Or for the second successive year but revealed he would love to see former England team-mate Harry Kane win the prize.
“You must be proud. Second year in a row, nominated. It’s obviously really good, really proud,” he said.
“Obviously I know who I want to win it and I’d love to see Harry Kane win it. So I’m wishing him all the best in that.”
And Rice has made no secret of Arsenal’s ultimate objective.
“Losing that Champions League final really hurt,” he said. “Seeing that trophy and seeing PSG lift it, that stays with you.
“With the additions that we’ve added as well and the way we’ve gone about the Champions League the last few years, we have the abilities and the capabilities to do it. It’s just about taking that extra step.
“We’re only in September. There’s still such a long way to go in the Champions League and we have some big games coming up.
“But that’s why we play football. Let’s see what happens in the competition.”
