The Blues legend talked about the Hammers midfielder while in discussion over the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has praised West Ham United star Declan Rice, suggesting that he should have been named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
The Dutchman also hailed the Hammers for how they have nurtured him into a top player, and noted the way he plays football – “simply” – as well as his impressive pass accuracy.
Rice has made a sensational breakthrough this season and is now an indispensable first-team player for West Ham, with 32 Premier League starts under his belt in 2018-19 according to Transfermarkt.
In addition, the 20-year-old has committed his future to the club until 2024, and is also a senior England international valued at £31.5million (Transfermarkt).
On Thursday, the PFA Premier League Team of the Year was published, with Manchester City and Liverpool taking all but one of the places in the XI and Manchester United’s Paul Pogba the only one not from the league’s current top two.
On the subject of players who “should have been in instead”, Hasselbaink is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: “This boy Rice has caught my eye. I saw him play and followed him, he left Chelsea to join West Ham and they have nurtured him. He is 20 but plays so maturely and in an important position where you have to be unselfish.
“What I have noticed is he does it simply, getting the ball and playing it. He has a pass accuracy of around 80%. He has been very consistent and against Manchester United at Old Trafford, he played a magnificent game and was above everyone else.”
West Ham have three fixtures left this season, away at Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday’s early kickoff, at home against Southampton on 4 May and finally a trip to Watford on the final day of the season (12 May).
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