Paul Scholes explains why he didn’t include Declan Rice in his top midfielders list

“See, I get slagged off for this, but I did a top five the other week, and because I don’t put people like Caicedo and Declan Rice in there, I get stick for it,” said Scholes.

“But I just like a different type of midfielder. I like Vitinha at PSG — I think he’s brilliant. Yeah, I think he’s amazing.

“For Liverpool, I thought Mac Allister was brilliant. Now, he hasn’t started great this year, but I like that type — not so much the attacking midfielder, but the more controlling one who can do a bit of everything.”

Despite Scholes’ reservations about Rice’s all-around game compared to other midfielders in his preferred mould, it seems harsh given his numbers over the past two seasons: 16 goal contributions last season and 11 the campaign before. He’s also already chipped in with four more through nine matches this term.

Paul Scholes says Declan Rice isn’t a complete midfielder

During an appearance on the ‘Stick to Football’ podcast, Scholes explained how he was recently asked to name the five best midfielders in the game today.

He left Rice off his list, a decision that sparked plenty of criticism from fans who felt he deserved a spot.

Scholes believes that unlike players such as Mac Allister and Vitinha, Rice doesn’t quite offer the full range of skills he looks for in a midfielder.

“See, I get slagged off for this, but I did a top five the other week, and because I don’t put people like Caicedo and Declan Rice in there, I get stick for it.”

“But I just like a different type of midfielder. I like Vitinha at PSG — I think he’s brilliant. Yeah, I think he’s amazing.”

Rice has played across several positions during his career, including defensive midfield and centre-back before shifting to a more attacking role under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal. His adaptability has made him one of the best two-way players in football.