Hammers talisman Declan Rice says teammate Said Benrahma needs to be more consistent to be a big hit for West Ham.
West Ham made it back-to-back wins for the first time since before the November international break when they followed up the 4-1 win at Watford with a 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace last night.
Declan Rice was back in midfield for West Ham at Selhurst Park. And he was needed against much stiffer opposition than Watford had provided when he was suspended.
Another player who has been key to West Ham’s improved form has been Said Benrahma.
The Algerian has scored two goals in his last three games and provided a beautiful assist for Michail Antonio to get the ball rolling against Palace.
Benrahma started the season on fire but has – like the team – tailed off over the last couple of months.
David Moyes took a taskmaster approach to managing Benrahma last season.
Declan Rice says teammate Said Benrahma needs to be more consistent to be a big hit for West Ham
The Scot was constantly demanding that he do more, work harder and make better decisions.
Moyes has made Benrahma into much more of a team player.
But Rice has told West Ham’s official website that the playmaker must be more consistent if he is to be a big hit.
“It’s an amazing ball (from Benrahma),” Rice told whufc.com.
“He does that all the time in training and it’s just about getting that consistency.
“When he comes in off the right, whipping them balls in for the striker, he’s always a threat, and I’m buzzing for him to get the assist.
“I think he’s a player who needs confidence to perform. He’s one you need to put your arm around and make him feel like he’s the best player. In training he’s always on fire and in games you always see glimpses of magic from him.
“He probably didn’t have the ball as much as he’d have wanted tonight, but when he did he made it count and played some pivotal passes, which was massive for us.”
As Rice states, we are only seeing glimpses from Benrahma in matches. Long term West Ham will need much more than that.
If Benrahma wants to be up there with some of the best playmaking midfielders then he must provide a constant threat to the opposition.
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