England captain Harry Kane has come out in support of Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice following his withdrawal from the squad for the upcoming Nations League matches.
Rice left the international setup after discussions with head coach Thomas Tuchel. Kane revealed that Declan also reached out personally to clarify the situation.
The Bayern Munich forward acknowledged the demanding schedules faced by Premier League players, particularly after a challenging summer.
"Listen, everyone has their own situation. I know how tough the summer was, and I understand just how exhausting the schedule is, especially in the Premier League. I'm in a different position at the moment; I have a winter break and moments to recharge. Some players don’t have that opportunity," Kane explained.
"Everyone needs to take care of themselves and put themselves first, and I trust all the lads. I spoke with Dec and know that he is doing his utmost for both club and country. I recognise the commitment he gives, and I’m aware he has been battling some issues for a while now."
"I haven’t spoken to Cole, no. Dec just reached out to me directly. He sent me a message and a voice note. They’re not obliged to have that conversation with me, as I’m aware they’ve spoken with the coach, so it’s really up to the players themselves."
"A person like Declan needs to get himself sorted and refreshed because he has important matches ahead for both club and country. Sometimes you have to make the right decisions, and that’s something to be worked out between the coach and the player."
