Declan Rice did not make the grade at Chelsea – but was excellent against the Premier League champions for West Ham United at Stamford Bridge
It is very well documented that young players don’t tend to get the opportunities they perhaps deserve at Chelsea.
And, on Sunday’s evidence, Declan Rice has made a mockery of the reigning Premier League champions’ tendency to overlook the exciting young talents waiting in the wings at Stamford Bridge.
As Declan Rice has pointed out, Chelsea had him and lost him. The 19-year-old had started his career in West London but, in 2014, made the move across the capital to West Ham.
And he is now in the midst of a superb breakthrough season in claret and blue, becoming a Premier League regular and even being rewarded with a maiden Republic of Ireland debut in the 1-0 defeat to Turkey in March.
Sunday’s 1-1 draw with former club Chelsea was the latest in a series of composed and mature performances from Rice, who started the season as a midfielder but has now been converted into a ball-playing centre-half.
While Rice has some way to go before he can match the exploits of fellow Stamford Bridge rejects Kevin de Bruyne, Mo Salah and Romelu Lukaku, Chelsea’s loss looks very much West Ham’s gain at the moment.
And the London Stadium faithful could not be happier.
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