West Ham United midfield enforcer Declan Rice hailed the form of Manchester United's midfield-three ahead of Sunday's Premier League encounter at Old Trafford.
Rice, who has been heavily linked with a move to M16 over the last couple of years, such has been the Reds' desperate need to recruit a world-class midfielder, spoke glowingly about the trio of Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes, honing in on the latter. Despite not having hit top gear so far this season, Fernandes has, on the whole, been terrific since joining United in January 2020.
He adapted to the Premier League with ease and scored 28 goals and grabbed 17 assists in his first full season as a United player in 2020/21. He also enjoyed a lucrative campaign last term, getting 10 goals and 14 assists.
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And for Rice, who will have ambitions of starring for England at the upcoming World Cup, Fernandes was the one that he was expecting to have to try and stop, pointing towards why he is such a handful to deal with.
"I think every time you play against United, Bruno's the one I have to look after," Rice told Sky Sports ahead of kick-off. "He picks up good pockets, good spaces and is always wanting to get on the ball.
"But we need to focus on their three, they're performing well. It will be a tough match-up."
On playing at Old Trafford again, Rice said: "[it is] I nspiring, for sure. It's Old Trafford, you think of the heritage, the big games that are played here and the players that have played here. You want to come here, stamp you mark and get a win yourself."
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