West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice has admitted to Monday Night Football, which was broadcast on Sky Sports, that David Moyes went mad at him at full time after their game against Leeds United.
West Ham may have won 2-0 against Leeds yesterday, but their opening goal was rather fortunate.
Rice unselfishly decided that Jesse Lingard could take the penalty, after the Manchester United loanee went down in the box.
Lingard actually missed from the spot, but he converted the rebound, to atone for his mistake.
That goal gave West Ham a lead, which they doubled when Craig Dawson headed home from a corner.
But Rice says that Moyes was not pleased with him giving up spot kicks for the game.
“The gaffer has just battered me in there,” he said. “But me and Jess spoke, we’ve been practicing in training together and he said ‘can I take it?’.
“I’m not one to be selfish, there was a bit of controversy with the last penalty, and I was confident in him to go and take the ball.
“If he had missed that there would have been a bit of backlash on me, but I was confident in Jesse’s ability to put the ball away.”
Rice is now set to be back on penalties for the foreseeable future at West Ham.
“The gaffer has just said in there now it’s definitely me again,” he added.
Rice actually has an impressive record from the spot, so Moyes’s desire to get him back on penalty kicks is understandable.
West Ham are now in fifth place in the Premier League table, and can ill afford to take any chances over who takes their penalties, with Champions League football well in their sights.
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