‘he is too nice’

Roy Keane has challenged Declan Rice to shed his ‘nice guy’ image when Arsenal lock horns with Manchester City in Sunday’s Premier League summit meeting.

The Gunners travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday knowing that a victory would almost certainly see them end their 22-yeat wait to be crowned champions.

Last Saturday’s demoralising defeat against Bournemouth, coupled with City’s demolition of Chelsea, has, however, put an entirely different complexion on the run-in.

Pep Guardiola’s side appear to have put their early season struggles behindthem and a new-look team centred around the creative talents of Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo, ably supported by experienced campaigners such Rodri and Bernardo Silva is beginning to blossom.

‘Do you not think this is Declan’s moment Declan?’ he said on The Overlap.

‘Rice is someone who when he went to Arsenal for £100m I was gutted.

‘I think he’s a Manchester United player.

Harry Kane, Declan Rice that Manchester United would have signed back in the day.

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‘You don’t let Declan Rice go to any other club.

He is a player who will win you the league.

On Sunday he is the player I’m looking at and this isn’t me putting pressure on him.

This is me expecting this is the Roy Keane moment the Steven Gerrard moment.’
Neville’s former United captain, Keane, visibly bristled at that assessment of Rice and while he maintained he is an admirer of the England international as a player, he questioned whether or not he has the leadership qualities to drag his side over the winning line.

He said: ‘He’s too nice.

All I ever hear is he’s a really nice guy and he’s a good guy and all of this.

‘I know he’s a good player but I don’t think he gets a grip of people.

He’s best mates with everyone.

‘I mean falling out with people, challenging people in the dressing room.

You’re on about Bournemouth, you’re criticising the manager and Arteta, listen after 50 minutes he made three substitutions.

‘He didn’t sit on his hands until the last 10 minutes.

He did make changes.

Eventually it comes down to the players and I want Rice to challenge people.

‘You see games where it’s not going right and I don’t see Declan Rice pulling up anybody.

‘His performances are fine, don’t get me wrong but that’s not enough.

‘Did he get a grip of his teammates or did he smash anybody?

Did he smash any Bournemouth players who are all having a lovely day.

‘I’d love to know what he’s like in the dressing room, does he challenge people?

Is he best pals with everybody.

I’m always wary.

‘It’s not what the game is about.

It’s big boy stuff.

You’ve got to challenge people and fall out with people.’