- Rice scored two superb free kicks in the 3-0 arsenal victory over Real Madrid
- Carragher thinks that the midfielder has what it takes to become among the best
- Listen now: everything is launched! Chris Sutton and Ian Ladyman debate the prices of the manager of the season … who is the best and the worst?
Jamie Carragher thinks that Declan Rice can be the largest English midfielder of his generation after his superb splint against Real Madrid.
Rice broke the dead end with an exceptional free kick from the beach, before following it only 12 minutes later with an even better effort that entered the upper corner.
Mikel Merino then added a third in the 75th minute to make 3-0, and the Gunners closed a massive white leaf victory against the holders of the competition, Rice naturally won the match of the match for his problems.
Since that time, he has received praise widespread for his performance, some experts comparing him to the great English Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
However, Carragher thinks that Rice is more in the credit of the former Manchester United captain, Roy Keane, who was not known for his goal marking prowess but who was always very effective.
“I have always said that Rice had the potential to be the big English midfielder of his generation, and he showed why,” Carragher wrote in his telegraph column.
Jamie Carragher thinks that Declan Rice can be the largest English midfielder of his generation
Declan was appointed man of the match against Real Madrid after his two superb free kicks
Carragher compared Rice to the former Manchester United Captain Roy Keane (right)
“Too often, it seems to be criticized not to mark or create enough objectives, when it is not its main function.
“He does not play in the same position of attacker midfielder as Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard to their peak. For me, Rice has always been more a Roy Keane, who scored 57 in his 473 senior club games.
“ If Arsenal goes through the contribution of Rice on both legs will rightly be revered by his supporters as much as that of Keane for United against Juventus in 1999. ”
After his double at the Emirates on Tuesday, Rice himself admitted that he thought it would take a while for his achievements to strike him while he lounges in the success of the night.
In addition to 330 games as a professional, it was the first time that he has marked a direct free kick and two arrived in 13 minutes.
He said, “I don’t know if it will never sink. My phone has gone crazy.
“To mark the first and second, I imagined both and to have confidence … I am a bit speechless, it’s a bit of story to beat Madrid.
“The manager has just said, with the individual quality he has, it is frightening and special things happen at the Bernabeu. We are not going to defend, we will attack and we want to be in the semi-finals.
It was the first time that Rice was to score a direct free kick and two arrived in 13 minutes.
“No messages from David Beckham, I’m not lucky to have his number. But I’m so happy.
During his first free kick, he revealed that the shooting was not originally the plan – but he was convinced by a teammate.
“We had a good discussion before everyone,” he said. “ Martin (Odegaard) said to cross, I said that it did not make sense and that it does not do it like that – it is not a risk but it is difficult.
“We practice them all the time. Nicolas Jover (set-piece coach) tells me to cross and that didn’t make sense.
“Bukayo (Saka) said that if you feel it, go for it. I looked at the wall and the goalkeeper and said I could fold it and that’s what happened. He (Jover) claims it and he told me to cross it!
