Gary Neville has revealed which player he thinks is the better defensive midfielder: Rodri or Declan Rice.
Unlike the Arsenal superstar, Manchester City’s number 16 has only played as a holding midfielder this season.
Declan Rice has often been used in a more advanced position, with either Jorginho or Thomas Partey sitting in front of the back four.
However, the consensus is that the pair are the standard bearers for the defensive midfield position in the Premier League.
Neville shares who’s a better number six: Rodri or Rice
Both players have had exceptional campaigns and have an argument to be considered the best performers in the league.
In March, Declan Rice claimed that Rodri is arguably the best holding midfielder in world football.
The Spaniard praised the former West Ham United captain’s strength and running power while admitting that he always tries to learn from top-class midfielders like him.
According to Gary Neville, Declan Rice is not a defensive midfielder, whereas Rodri is one, as per his analysis on Sky Sports.
Neville said: “[Declan] Rice is not that position. That’s been established this season that [Thomas] Partey or Jorginho have had to come in. Rodri’s that position. Rice can’t play that position very well, I don’t think, he’s better in that three position on the left. I think that’s been established by Mikel Arteta this season.”
The pundit added: “I think that position, to be honest with you, it’s a different level of intelligence, I’m not saying Declan Rice is not an intelligent football player, I think he’s a sensational player, how he’s improved is unbelievable.”
“But I don’t think he can play in that position with real discipline and I don’t even think Gareth [Southgate] likes him being there, I think he’d rather have another midfield player to play in there so he can free him up to run onto the game, run forward, press high.”
Gary Neville concluded that when comparing Rodri and Declan Rice as holding midfielders, the Manchester City anchor is a superior player.
“I think Rodri is on a different level in that position than Declan Rice but Declan Rice is a different level in that position on the left.”
Much like Gary Neville, Micah Richards also feels Rodri is a better defensive midfielder than Declan Rice.
If Rodri had the Arsenal midfielder’s athleticism, it would not be a debate
One area where perhaps the Englishman is superior to the treble-winner is his speed and ability to cover large distances.
Rodri is not blessed with the same level of athleticism as Rice, who is perhaps one of the best athletes in the game.
However, if the former Atletico Madrid star was as athletic as Declan Rice, in our view, the constant debate about which player out of them is the better defensive midfielder would be one-sided.
Considering Rodri is a superior player in possession and in terms of his reading of the game than the Gunners hero, if he was also as athletic, it would be fair to claim that he is miles better than Rice.
But that is not the case and perhaps the debate is valid as both have their respective strengths and weaknesses.
