West Ham star Declan Rice has responded to comments made about him by Leeds United legend Olivier Dacourt.
Rice has been making headlines again in the last couple of weeks.
The midfield ace rescued West Ham from the mire when he saved the club from an embarrassing FA Cup exit at the hands of Kidderminster Harriers last weekend.
The Hammers talisman then did an interview with Gary Neville for The Overlap where he talked about his ambitions to ‘win all the top trophies’ including the Champions League and the Premier League.
There has often been fervent debate between Leeds and West Ham fans over who is the better central midfielder between Rice and Kalvin Phillips.
Indeed West Ham tried to pair the duo together when they moved to sign Phillips from Leeds in the January window.
Back on the pitch Rice, who has been a picture of consistency for West Ham, has not been at his best in the narrow win over Watford and draw at Leicester.
David Moyes admitted Rice wasn’t his usual self against Watford.
So the West Ham midfielder was buoyed when comments made about him by Leeds legend Dacourt – which might not go down too well at his old club – were put to him during a new interview.
West Ham star Declan Rice responds to comments made about him by Leeds legend Olivier Dacourt
Rice was told that former Leeds star Dacourt – who also played for Roma, Inter Milan and France – had named him as the best English midfielder in an interview with Canal+.
And the West Ham man was flattered to say the least.
“Of course, it’s nice to hear those words so ‘thank you’ to him for saying that as it’s obviously really nice,” Rice told West Ham’s official website when asked what he thought about the ex Leeds star’s comments.
“I’ve still got a long way to go to get to the really big levels I can get to. I feel I can get better.
“At the top, there are top English midfielders like Jude Bellingham and other players in the Premier League as well.
“Luckily enough I’m having a good season, but hopefully I can keep pushing and get better.”
Dacourt was a fine player himself and key to one of the best Leeds teams for generations.
But his comments may not go down too well back at Leeds, where many supporters still believe Phillips is a better player.
He’s not of course.
But there was a meeting of minds and mutual appreciation between supporters during the Euros over the qualities they both possess.
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