Declan Rice says every player in the West Ham United squad is ready to bring three points back from Stamford Bridge when the Irons travel to play Chelsea on Monday.
The Hammers will meet the Blues in Monday’s Premier League match and Rice is taking heart from his side’s performances against the divisions’ top teams this campaign.
Having claimed a credible draw at home to Chelsea last September, the 20-year-old is looking to go one better in the next match.
We’ve had some great results against Chelsea in the past few years and all the lads are fired up for this game.
Declan Rice
“Chelsea are in a battle for the top-four, but we need to go about our business as well,” Rice said. “I watched their game against Cardiff last weekend and we can take the positives from Cardiff’s performance.
“We’re going to Stamford Bridge for this derby and we’ve been good in the big games this season. We’re looking forward to going there and hopefully coming away with three points.
“I remember last year we got a point at Stamford Bridge. We’ve had some great results against Chelsea in the past few years and all the lads are fired up for this game.”
After a disappointing defeat last time out against Everton, Rice admitted that West Ham have failed to grab the opportunities they have had to break into the top seven this season, and wants to see the team continue to aim for bigger and better things.
He continued: “Every chance we’ve had to go seventh this season, we haven’t taken that opportunity. It kind of shows where we’re at. We need to be aiming for bigger things and, with the squad we’ve got, we need to finish higher than what we have done in recent years.
“This has been a fresh week. We’ve turned a new page and we’re looking forward to the game.
“The manager has been on at us to have a big mentality and a strong mentality. We want to aim big. We have to start taking our opportunities.”