Declan: “We didn’t want to let the fans down”

Declan Rice scores the Hammers' second goal in Zagreb

Declan  scores his brilliant  goal in Zagreb

Declan Rice is packing so much into his career it’s keeping hard to keep up but every performance at every new development at different levels  is putting millions on a price we all hope and pray will never be paid.

This is an extraordinary young man who now only has to land the national team captaincy to achieve most of what the game has to offer.

The Hammers skipper notched his team’s second goal at Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday night, helping clinch a  2-0 victory which got their UEFA Europa League campaign off to the perfect start.

Michail Antonio had already opened the scoring on a fantastic night for the Hammers at the Stadion Maksimir, leaving Rice to sum everything up.

His own goal was a dream and the final stage in what we have been seeing over recent games as he has driven forward more and more from his defensive midfield position.

It feels amazing, incredible,” he beamed. “Last year we worked so hard to achieve this and we didn’t want to let the fans down tonight.

“We knew we had a tough game to come out here for the first one, and we had to get the three points for ourselves, but also for the travelling fans. They’ve been amazing. 

“We felt we were in control. In the first half they sat behind the ball and it was a case of keeping the ball moving. Mich pounced on a mistake and made a great finish.

“Then in the second half I read the pass and pounced on the mistake as well. Two mistakes and they get punished and we walk away very happy tonight.”

He explained that playing for Hammers in Europe lived up to all his expectations.

“There has been a real buzz around the place, the lads have known for so long what’s been coming and to come away in our first European night and get the win is very good,” he continued.

“For the club and for the players too, it’s a great experience for us and I’m really happy we could win tonight.

“We know how important it is to win these kind of games. We knew it would be tough to come out here tonight. We want to get as many points on the board as quickly as possible and wrap up qualification. We’ve got Rapid Vienna next, but Man United first, so focus turns to that now and then Europe after that.”

The goal was the icing on the cake for Rice, who added: “It’s a part of my game I’ve been speaking about for so long. I know I can do it and I know I’ve got it in myself,” he explained. 

“I read the pass, beat the player to the 50-50 and just thought keep going, he’s not going to catch me. It was a quick-thinking, instinctive process, because Mich pulled away and I was going to pass, but I thought if you don’t shoot you don’t score. So I shot and luckily enough it went in the back of the net.”

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon