Former West Ham United player and coach Stuart Pearce and ex-Rangers striker Ally McCoist have both responded to Hammers captain Declan Rice following his recent comments.
Rice, who has been heavily linked with transfer interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and other clubs, has recently come under fire from ex-Liverpool and Manchester United stars Graeme Souness and Roy Keane over his recent performances.
Earlier this week, Rice gave his response to the duo’s recent comments, saying that he thought what Souness had said about Rice was “harsh.”
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Now, ex-West Ham player and coach Pearce has had his say and thinks that because of what Souness and Keane have achieved throughout their player careers, Rice should take their comments on board and use it to grow as a player.
“I would see it as a compliment if I was Declan, to be honest with you,” Pearce talkSPORT. “I would say listen, if the likes of Keane and Souness, who were absolutely outstanding midfield players in the generations they played, outstanding, think that I as a player, if I was Declan, can improve.
“I would think ‘wow, that is a pat on the back of the highest order.’ I think sometimes, when people of that ilk and ability actually talk, they are doing it for a reason actually and they’re doing it from a baseline of good knowledge as well. I would take it on board as a compliment if I was Dec.”
Former Rangers and Scotland forward McCoist has also had his say on Pearce’s response to Rice’s comments.
He, like Pearce, thinks that Keane and Souness talking about him at all shows how much quality he has, with McCoist agreeing with ex-Hammers defender Pearce.
“I take your point,” McCoist reply. “If you’re of that ability and capable of doing stuff, Graeme and Roy talk about you. If you’re not, they’re not going to mention you so I take your point."
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