Ireland fans all say the same thing about Declan Rice after Champions League heroics
The midfielder scored two fantastic goals from free-kicks as he put in a galactico performance against Real Madrid
Declan Rice produced one of the finest performances of his career on Tuesday as Arsenal defeated Real Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash.
The midfielder scored two fantastic goals from free-kicks as he put in a galactico performance against Carlo Ancelotti's men.
Rice delivered his first stunning set-piece with 58 minutes gone before striking again 12 minutes later. Mikel Merino grabbed a third to send the Emirates into dreamland ahead of next week’s return fixture at the Bernabeu.
The 26-year-old revealed after the game that he was going to cross the first free rather than shoot.
“Originally we were going to cross the first one, but I saw the wall and the goalkeeper’s position. The second one I had the confidence and I hit it,” he told Prime Video.
“It’s not going to hit me yet because there’s another leg to go. I’m excited, I’m happy, I’m over the moon.
“In a few years’ time it will hit me that what I’ve done tonight is really special.”
Rice's heroics had Ireland fans taking to social media in their droves to think 'what if'.
One wrote: "Man imagine if Declan Rice stayed as an Ireland player."
Another said: "This Declan Rice fella is decent, He could play for Ireland."
Someone else commented: "Imagine if Declan Rice had stayed with Ireland, he could have had four weeks off every second summer."
One account called Irish Arsenal joked: "BREAKING: Declan Rice has been forgiven by the people of Ireland."
Gunners manager Mikel Arteta hailed Rice after the game, saying: “Declan’s been very determined because we have said in the last few months that we have not scored a direct free-kick in three-and-half years.
“So, to score two goals in 12 minutes of that magnitude and of that quality from the same player, a player that has never scored a free-kick before in his career, what are the odds?
“This night was all about two factors; one is the atmosphere that we created 15 minutes before kick-off with something I haven’t seen before. And then the magic, the individual moments that decide all matches. And the first two goals from Declan sums up the night.”
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