**Declan Rice Urges Team to Bounce Back After Bournemouth Setback**

Following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth, Declan Rice has voiced the need for a strong response in the forthcoming match on Tuesday night. Rice provided an honest evaluation of their weekend loss on the south coast, emphasizing how the game's dynamics were altered once they were reduced to 10 men.

"I could say a million things," Rice commented. "But honestly, I'm proud of the players. Reacting to going down to 10 men isn't ideal, and as a group, we recognized that. We've let our standards slip three times in eight games, and to compete at the top, that can't happen."

Rice highlighted the team's resilience and spirit, stressing the importance of maintaining a positive mentality. "Even at half-time, we believed we could win and had several good chances. I'm proud of these boys and the club's mentality. We're committed to pushing on and fighting. The fans were amazing, and although it's disappointing not to stay unbeaten, football is a rollercoaster with ups and downs. We need to stick together, especially with another six or seven games this month."

The match's complexity increased when William Saliba received a red card for fouling Evanilson in the 28th minute. "Playing with 10 men affects the game massively," Rice explained. "If it had stayed 11v11, I believe we would have won, as we created amazing chances even with a man down. They threw everything at us, leaving big spaces; but in football, you can't wish for or gamble your success—you need to earn it. Unfortunately, two mistakes at critical times cost us."

Rice also extended gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support. "The supporters filled the stadium even before we came out to warm up, chanting our names. Despite being down to 10 men, we felt their support and wanted to perform well for them. It's disappointing not to win, but we thank them. We have two big home games coming up against Shakhtar and Liverpool, and I'm confident the fans will be behind us for those matches."