DECLAN RISE

THE SHOCK SIDE OF THE A year ago he was battling relegation and constantly linked with Chelsea, but Rice says: I would love to be in the Champions League WITH West Ham... we used to cave in but this team fears nobody

A SEASON or two ago, I bemoaned the lack of quality central defenders in the top flight.

The fact that since then only Virgil van Dijk, at his best, would have got anywhere near a World XI has proved me right.

Now we can throw goalkeepers into the mix, too, because this hipsterisation of the game is afflicting them.

Remember Peter Schmeichel, Petr Cech, Edwin van de Saar, David Seaman…? The list goes on.

They inspired confidence because they made saves, led their defensive lines and did the basics well.

Even Nigel Martyn, Tim Howard and Brad Friedel guaranteed dependability because they did the bottom-line stuff goalkeepers need to do.

Now we have this whole, ‘Who’s the keeper who can play the best?’ nonsense, and you can see what getting caught up in it has done to David De Gea (above).

Goalkeepers should be there to pass a ball 10 yards maximum, but nowadays you have to be seen to be doing a Cruyff turn or stepover before pinging a raking pass.

We’re trying to create Jacks of all trades instead of just expecting keepers to do what they’re supposed to — which is keep the ball out of the net.

THE irony is richer than the clubs that have for so long tried to poach their best player.

West Ham could finish in the top four – above the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs.

If you had suggested that at the start of the season, they would have asked – with apologies to

Liverpool owner

John W. Henry – what you were smoking here in the capital.

Now the Hammers could have the last laugh on Roman Abramovich, after many believed it would be just a matter of time before the Russian billionaire returned for the £70million-rated midfielder released from Chelsea’s academy. Declan Rice, among the stars of West Ham’s surge up the table, has made no secret of his desire to play Champions League football.

He now has the fabulous chance to do so with the club where he has become a star.

Admitting his excitement, Rice said: “I’d be wrong to sit here and say that that’s not something I am thinking about.

“I want to be in those places now. This club is a massive club. We’ve got the quality and that’s where we need to be pushing.

“The next four games for us are going to define that. We’ve got Man City, then Leeds, then Man United, then Arsenal – massive games. If we get through those with a good amount of points, then who knows? We’ll be down to single figures – in terms of games – and able to start counting down in terms of how long we’ve got to go.”

While many of the clubs below them have thrown away points from their games in hand, West Ham have remained consistent with seven wins from their last nine matches.

Boss David Moyes (with Rice, left) has had his men overperforming, even without an orthodox striker after selling Sebastien Haller to Ajax in January.

The Scot has earned the trust of fans after instilling a winning mentality at the London Stadium and laying the foundations for lasting success. Rice (with Issa Diop, right) told

Talksport: “We are going out there now and don’t fear anybody. The West

Ham of last season would have caved in in the second half (against Tottenham) and conceded goals. But now it is completely different.

“We won’t cave in to anyone. We know we can score goals. We’ve got quality in the attacking end of the pitch as well. So long may that continue for us.”

Although Moyes has another year left on his contract, West Ham’s owners are set to reward him for the

‘This club is a massive club. That’s where we need to be pushing’

club’s outstanding season with a lucrative new deal. The ex-manchester United boss saved the

Irons a fortune in the transfer market when he responded to

Burnley’s request for a staggering

£50m for defender James Tarkowski by snapping up Vladimir Coufal from Slavia Prague for a tenth of the price, adding Craig Dawson on loan from Watford for £1m. The icing on the cake, however, was landing

Manchester United winger Jesse Lingard (celebrating his goal against Spurs, above and below) who has hit the ground running with three important goals in four games.

Rice added: “I knew when I played with him at England, he’s a top, top player. When you give him the ball you know he’ll do something with it.

“He’s also got a great personality and the lads have taken to him really well. Hopefully, he’s still here next season.

“I can say firsthand, this is the best West Ham side I’ve been a part of in the four years I’ve been in the team.

“There’s a unity, the love the lads have for each other, the daily banter and the mentality have changed completely.”