Declan Rice is doing a lot of his good work right now in spite of Chelsea, but has revealed he grew up idolising one of the club’s legends.
The midfielder was part of Chelsea’s academy system as a kid, before releasing him and desperately trying to sign him back when he was at West Ham.
He eventually chose to join Arsenal instead, and is in the process of completing what could be a special season for Chelsea’s arch-rivals.
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Declan Rice grew up idolising John Terry at Chelsea
Despite starring in midfield now, Rice used to feature as a centre-back when he was at Cobham, and had the icon John Terry to look up to when he was learning his trade.
He has told the Arsenal website that he based his game on the Chelsea legend, particularly his leadership and dedication when defending.
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He said: “As a kid for me, being at Chelsea, if you’re looking at a football player and you wanna be a football player, at that time when I was a kid, I was playing centre back and I was at Chelsea, so I based my whole game on John Terry as a kid.
“When I was a kid, I was playing centre back, and he was Chelsea captain at the time. And the way I played, because he was English centre back, I was English playing centre back, the way he used to throw himself under the ball, his leadership, the way he used to, defend, like command his defence.
“The way he used to play left foot, right foot, you know, I just watched clips of him constantly. That’s what I used to aspire to.”
It’s time to bin the five-year plan, Todd 😡
Joe Cole is absolutely right.
Rice starting to move ahead of Moises Caicedo
Chelsea’s own midfield superstar, Moises Caicedo, has finally started receiving praise from the wider football world this season.
Petr Cech even chose Caicedo ahead of Rice when naming a combined XI of Chelsea and Arsenal players.
However, the England international has remained at the top level for the entire season, while fatigue has clearly caught up with the Chelsea star of late.
It would be hard to argue right now that Caicedo remained ahead of Rice, however the prospect of having both together in midfield is one that will continue to haunt Chelsea fans.
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