Former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney has criticised Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice for his role in Paris Saint Germain’s decisive goal during Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League semi-final first-leg clash at the Emirates Stadium.
French winger Ousmane Dembele netted the only goal of the match early in the first half, handing PSG a slender 1-0 advantage ahead of the return leg in Paris next week.
Speaking to Daily Mail after the encounter, Rooney said Rice failed to read the danger that led to the goal and made a poor decision in defence.
“It is a really good pass that breaks the lines,” Rooney noted. “Arsenal have enough time to recover. Rice makes the wrong decision, he thinks he is trying to cover but he leaves the space where Dembele is.
“In the quarter-final, the semi-final, those details win and lose you the competition and today Arsenal got a lot wrong,” he added.
The Gunners now face a tough task overturning the deficit at the Parc des Princes in the second leg.