Pellegrini full of praise as West Ham's "complete player" makes his own brother cry v Arsenal

West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini was brimming with pride for midfield sensation Declan Rice following the Hammers’ 1-0 victory over Arsenal on Saturday.

Rice, 19, was outstanding against the Gunners and he seemed to be a magnet for the ball; always arriving to block, tackle, and intercept at precisely the right moment.

Rice’s game against Arsenal: Five key things to know…

1. Rice, who can also play as a centre-back, started alongside Mark Noble in the midfield for the London derby.
2. No player made more recoveries (4) in the first-half of West Ham vs. Arsenal than Rice.
3. Rice was instrumental in preventing his side from conceding in the first half when he slid in to intercept Sead Kolašinac’s pass in the box.
4. Rice scored West Ham’s winner – and his first goal for the club – in the second half.
5. He finished the game with 58 touches, 41 passes, 10 recoveries, three interceptions, two aerial duels won, two clearances, two tackles, two shots and one goal.

Rice scored the Hammers’ only goal at the London Stadium with a superbly taken shot after receiving a delicate pass from Hammers debutant Samir Nasri.

Rice’s great play was hailed throughout the football world and it pleased his manager, who described him as a “complete player” after the game.

“Declan Rice is improving in every game, maybe first of all I decided for him to be a midfielder because he can play as a centre-back, too,” Pellegrini told West Ham’s official website.

“After that, when he was giving solid performances in that position, we tried to help him play a little bit up.

“Today you could see he played a lot of balls in front and not back, and he has a good shot, is good technically and is good on aerial duels so I think we are seeing a complete player.

“He is just 19 years old and I’m sure in the future he will be a top, top player.”

West Ham’s victory takes them up to ninth place in the Premier League, level on points with Leicester City in eighth. The Hammers’ next game is against Bournemouth on 19 January.

How Rice’s Arsenal goal brought his brother to tears

Rice’s superb match-winner enraptured Hammers fans, delighted his manager and team-mates, but it overwhelmed his immediate family.

Following the game, Rice attended various media obligations and then checked in with his family, who he discovered were overjoyed by his success on the pitch; with his brother particularly happy.

“I checked my WhatsApp and they’ve sent me some voice notes and my brother is crying as he can’t believe it!” Rice told the club’s officials website.

“He’s just had a new-born baby so I don’t know where the baby went when I scored! My Mum and Dad have been watching me since I was a kid, so it’s a special day for the whole family.

“Dad text me before the game and he said ‘Don’t forget to SHOOT’ and today I shot and he was here to see me score.

“It’s the best thing that’s happened so far. Making my debut and signing a new contract were really good but to beat Arsenal, score the only goal, get Man of the Match and we won, that tops it all!”

The post Manuel Pellegrini hails Declan Rice as a “complete player” after Arsenal win appeared first on Squawka News.

From Squawka NewsSquawka News http://bit.ly/2FuqMNk