Declan has big Hammers ambition

Declan Rice has so regularly been linked with moves away from West Ham that many fnd it impossible to believe that he will be with the Hammers for much longer.

And relegation would certainly convince most that numerous clubs would be in for England defensive midfielder and that he would in all probability be on his way.

Rice, however, doesn’t appear to see life that way and in an interview with Tony Cottee for an interview for Premier League Productions the Hammers academy product made it clear he has a big ambition – to take over from Nobes as Hammers skipper one day.

It’s a seemingly totally honest interview and most – whatever their head may be telling them – will allow their hearts to believe that maybe it could all hapen for him and us.

The 21-year-old has already skippered the Hammers on one occasion, leading the team during the Premier League fixture with Leicester City at London Stadium in December.

And, having previously captained the U23s and U18s during his formative years at the Academy of Football, Rice’s leadership qualities have been evident since he was a schoolboy player.

Asked about taking over from Nobes per ”https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2020/march/11-march/declan-rice-one-day-id-love-be-west-ham-united-captain he smiled:  “Yes, but it’s a tough one because Nobes has obviously done so well and you don’t know how long he’ll go on for!

“I had the honour of having the captain’s armband this season and it felt really special, but I felt the pressure of it! Leading the team out with the armband on was so, so special and something I’d never have dreamed of as a kid.

“One day, I’d love to be captain and that’s where I’ve got to set my standards at. I think I’m capable of doing that, so I just think I need to get more experience and improve my leadership abilities, but for sure I can see myself captaining [West Ham] one day.”

In the meantime it’s all about survival and he said: “We’re not out of trouble at all. We know that we’re down there and that’s the reality of it. We’ve got tough games, but those big games are the ones we tend to turn up in. That’s West Ham.

“We’ve beaten Manchester United and won at Chelsea this year, played well at Liverpool and Arsenal, and we’ll roll our sleeves up in our remaining nine games and say ‘let’s have it’. We’re confident that we can rise to the occasion and get out of it.”