‘It’s in our hands!’: Declan Rice insists West Ham’s stars have ‘got the fire in our belly’ ahead of their Europa Conference League final clash against Fiorentina… but admits ‘anything can happen’ against the Serie A outfit
Declan Rice has insisted that West Ham’s stars are looking to ‘create history’ ahead of their Europa Conference League final.
The Hammers, who finished 14th in the Premier Leauge, will take on Serie A outfit Fiorentina on Wednesday, as they look to seal their first European trophy in 47 years.
The match presents a fantastic opportunity for a number of West Ham’s players to etch their names into the club’s history and, ahead of the game, Rice issued a rallying cry to his team-mates.
Speaking to the club website, Rice said: ‘Every time I put on the shirt, I know how big it is. This will be the biggest match that the club has had in so long.
‘So it’s going to be an honour to be part of and hopefully we can create some history on the night for the fans to cheer about.
Declan Rice has issued a rallying cry ahead of West Ham’s Europa Conference League final
The Hammers will travel to Prague in a bid to secure their first European title in 47 years
‘Just to lift that trophy, especially to be with the lads as well – our group of boys are such good people, and to see them laughing and smiling and singing after the semi-final game.
‘It’s definitely got the fire in our belly to have those kinds of nights again, and we’ve got the chance to do that. There are loads of things that add to it, but for me it’s just about wanting to see the lads smiling again and wanting to lift the trophy. It’s in our hands, so we’re going to push to do that.
The Hammers will be hoping to use the experience from their Europa League semi-final defeat last season to help them go one step further this year.
‘I think the feeling of the defeat we had last year against Eintracht Frankfurt, and the way the two legs went – conceding in the first minute in the first game at home, coming back, but then them scoring again, then we went to their place and had a man sent off. It was just how it went for the whole tie – it lives with you,’ Rice explained.
‘We’ve already created history by getting to the final, but now there’s a chance to go and create a legacy where every single player, the manager, everyone involved will be remembered forever.’
‘Now it’s a final, anything can happen. It’s a game of football and we’ll do everything we can to do the job.’
Rice, who came through the West Ham academy before making his first-team debut in 2017, insisted that a win in Prague would be his biggest career highlight to date.
‘I think it would be my biggest achievement I’ve had in football so far,’ Rice claimed. ‘I think to win a trophy like this, a European trophy, with West Ham, I think it puts every player at a higher status within the Club in terms of with the fans, how you’ll be remembered.
Serie A outfit Fiorentina stand in between the Hammers and a historic European title
Rice was pictured at London Stansted Airport as the Hammers made their way to Prague
David Moyes, his staff and the West Ham players departed their Rush Green training ground after a morning session and headed for London Stansted Airport on Monday.
As they walked towards the flight, captain Rice looked stern-faced, as he hopes to deliver the club a trophy in what could be his final game for them.
They arrived in Czechia on Monday evening after a 110 minute journey to Prague’s Vaclav Havel Airport. They were then met by two coaches to take the team to their hotel in the heart of the city.
The Hammers have not competed in a European final since they lost to Anderlecht in the Cup Winners Cup back in 1976.
