“Behind-the-scenes stuff” Arsenal man has been playing through pain since Christmas

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·22 de junho de 2026

“Behind-the-scenes stuff” Arsenal man has been playing through pain since Christmas

Declan Rice has revealed that he has been playing through the pain barrier for club and country since Christmas after being substituted during England’s World Cup match against Croatia..

Rice is one of the most important players in the England team, and fans were surprised when Thomas Tuchel decided to take him off during the match. The midfielder later stated that he had not suffered an injury, but it was clear his manager was carefully managing his fitness with the decision.

Vídeos OneFootball

Rice Fitness Revelation

Rice has now opened up about dealing with hamstring pain since the end of last year, managing the issue throughout his time with Arsenal, and he admitted that the decision to take him off was a smart one.

As quoted by the Daily Mail, He said:

“I was feeling a little bit of neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for a very long time. Obviously, not a lot of people would have known that. It was all behind the scenes stuff but it (the substitution) was a smart decision.”

“That last 20 minutes is probably where you pick up the most (injuries), it is where you really feel your body going for it. So it was a smart decision because the last few days I have felt really, really good.”

England World Cup Management

England will need Rice throughout the World Cup, so his workload must be carefully managed, with the team fortunate to have several top players who can step in when required.

Maintaining his fitness will be important for both club and country, as his recent comments highlight the physical demands he has been dealing with in recent months.

His comments underline the importance of careful recovery work as the season continues, particularly given the intensity of both domestic and international football schedules.

Overall, his fitness remains closely monitored.

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