Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has explained his bold verdict on Arsenal star Declan Rice and why he prefers other midfielders.
Rice has emerged as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League as he has shone for Arsenal in England in recent seasons.
It is widely accepted that he is one of, if not the best, centre-midfielder currently playing in England, but Scholes recently sparked debate by naming Newcastle United standout Sandro Tonali as the leading midfielder in the Premier League.
âAlexis MacAllister was absolutely brilliant last season, he controlled a lot of games and I think Liverpool are missing that at the moment,â Scholes said.
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âI love Sandro Tonali as well. Heâs been brilliant. Very good. I would probably choose Tonali at this point.â
He added: âYes, youâre going to say Declan Rice but I think heâs better than Rice.
âI really like Rice, donât get me wrong, I think heâs got everything. Sometimes he takes a few too many touches of the ball and tries to look a bit more stylish than necessary.
âHe can do everything but I just donât think he does it enough. I prefer Tonali but theyâre both good players.â
Now, Scholes has revealed that he has this opinion on Rice because he âlikes a different type of midfielderâ.
âI get slagged off because I did a top five the other week and I donât put people like Caicedo or Rice because I like a different type of midfielder,â Scholes said on the Stick to Football podcast.
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âVitihna at PSG is brilliant, he is amazing. I thought Mac Allister at Liverpool last year was brilliant, I know he hasnât started that great this season.
âBut I like that more controlling midfielder who can do a bit of everything not just defensive one who might score the odd goal. I like the more progressive type.â
He added: âRice isnât my type of midfielder. Elliot Anderson has been good.
âI donât think we have that type of controlling midfielder who can do everything. We havenât got a Vitinha, Toni Kroos or Luka Modric. We donât have that.
âProbably a while ago Jack Wilshere was the closest to being that type but a load of injuries stopped him.
âI donât think we have the type who has that game intelligence for when to slow it down, when to fizz it in a centre forward, I donât think it is there.â
