Chelsea defensive midfielder scouting series part four: Declan Rice

Passing

Rice has averaged less passes per 90 (40.5) than Kante (53.2), which isn’t surprising given the differences in possession averages of both teams. Rice (87 percent) edges Kante (86 percent) in pass completion. Rice completes more long balls every match though 3 to 2.6, but at a lower rate than Kante, 62 percent to 66 percent. A 62 percent long ball accuracy is superb in its own right. Kante (1.2) beats Rice (0.6) in key passes per 90 though, which could also be explained by the playing style of both players and the area of operation in their respective teams. Kante has more freedom and/or instruction to run forward while Rice mainly sits back. Despite this, both players have created three big chances since the start of last season, none of them have made any through passes though (passes that put a player through goal/one-on-one with with keeper).

In terms of impacting offensive play in possession, Kante also wins out, making 4.7 progressive passes per 90 compared to Rice’s three.

Central midfielders in Tuchel’s 3-4-3 will find themselves having a lot of the ball in most games. They will be tasked with tidy distribution, recycling of possession and often dribbling. Rice satisfies this, more than Kante even, as the Englishman and the Frenchman both average 1.1 dribbles per game in the time under scrutiny. However, the West Ham midfielder does it at a 79 percent success rate, compared to Kante’s 67 percent. This could indicate that Rice picks his moments to dribble more careful, which would be key in playing for Chelsea, as dribbling is just as important as not getting caught out in possession.

Rice ticks the box in the passing department.