“I think he needs to do a lot more.”
Roy Keane has said that Declan Rice must improve to justify the hype around him.
The West Ham United captain has been linked with a £80m move to Arsenal this summer, but Keane has said that Rice must add more to his game to reach the next level.
“I don’t think he’s been that good,” Keane said on ITV’s coverage of Manchester United’s 3-1 win over West Ham in the FA Cup.
“I don’t think he’s been great this season. He’s not really kicked on, you know, for all the talk about him, a lot of good PR coming out of West Ham about his price.
“I think he needs to do a lot more. He doesn’t get enough goals… doesn’t get enough assists.
Keane then took issue with Ian Wright, who said ‘Wow’ during the Irishman’s analysis of Rice.
“Do you disagree? That’s good,” Keane said to Wright.
“I hope you disagree with me! Because I think I know what I’m talking about, I played in midfield.”
“He needs to do a lot more,” Keane continued.
“We’ll see what he’s like now tonight. And listen, I’ve been a fan of him. He turns up every week, and he’s always fit, but I just want a bit more from him.
“There’s talk of him, he’s gonna be leaving for big money and going to one of the bigger clubs who will be competing for trophies obviously and playing in the Champions League… He needs to do a lot more. It’s as simple as that.
“I want to look at him closely tonight. Listen, you gotta turn up sometimes. I see him in games at West Ham, and I’m not saying he’s playing badly… but sometimes he’s just going through the motions. Sidewards, backwards, taking the easy option.
“He needs to do a lot more to match some of the top midfielders in the country.”
💬 “I don’t think he’s been that great this season. He’s not really kicked on… I think he needs to do a lot more. He doesn’t score enough goals and he doesn’t get enough assists.”
👀 Roy Keane on Declan Rice @EmiratesFACup | @WestHam pic.twitter.com/Gu7iEeBGOO
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 1, 2023
Related links.
- Jermaine Jenas praises the ‘underappreciated’ part of Roy Keane’s game
- Will Ferrell interrupts Sky Sports coverage to catch up with Roy Keane
- Roy Keane jokingly tells Erik ten Hag to resign after Carabao Cup win
