Declan Rice played a key role when Arsenal Real Madrid overwhelmed to book their place in the semi -final of the Champions League, where the French champions PSG wait
Declan Rice has warned PSG that they have no fears for Arsenal in their semi-final of the Champions League-with the Gunners after he had seen what Aston Villa did the French champions in their quarterfinals.
Rice played a key role when the side of Mikel Arteta Real Madrid wiped aside in the quarterfinals. He was named husband of the game in both legs and scored twice in the first before he delivered a master class in midfield in the reverse fixture on Wednesday evening.
It is the first time for 16 years that Arsenal has reached the last four of the Champions League. The last time they succeeded was the performance in the 2008/2009 season, where they lost from Manchester United. PSG has now reached the semi -final four times the last six seasons. However, they had to survive a comeback against Villa on Tuesday evening, after being 5-2 of the second stage,
The tie finally ended 5-4 on aggregated after a nervy second half in front of Luis Enrique. And Rice has now warned PSG that Arsenal kept an eye on that game.
“Top team, she already played. We feel that they are a different team at the time. We have seen what they can do. But we also saw what Villa did to them last night, causing them to cause many problems,” he said TNT Sports.
“Look, we will work hard. We now have to go to Ipswich on Sunday, which will be a tough game because we want to continue and continue to win competitions in the premium. And also as you said, focus on this competition.”
Rice insisted that Arsenal's goal is now to lift the Champions League for the first time in the club's history. He admitted that their setbacks in the Premier League have left them hungry for success.
“It is a historic evening for this club. We have an objective in this competition – we want to play the best teams and win this competition. A lot has been talked about those who come back because they have done it so many times,” he added.
“But we had a belief and confidence that we would win the game. We had it in mind and we did it in real life. What a night for the club. Before I came to the club, I felt that we were on an upward process.
“It was difficult in the Premier League – we lost a point last year and this year it was slipped for us – but in this competition we did incredibly well.
“We have full faith in this manager; he is incredible. The semi -final is huge for us. We just want to take tonight, then it's PSG who is a great team.”