Arsenal star Declan Rice spoke in a press statement after qualifying for the UEFA Champions League final, following a 1-0 victory in the second leg against Atletico Madrid at the Emirates Stadium, noting that the first leg ended in a 1-1 draw.

The player said: "The atmosphere in the locker room is celebratory, but we cannot downplay what we have achieved in this tournament so far. We have every right to celebrate this moment, as it is the most important club-level tournament, and we are just trying to enjoy it."

He added: "We knew what was at stake before the match, and if you're not excited for such encounters, you can't be a football player. When we scored the first goal, I felt we were going to win; there was a sense that something special was taking shape."

Regarding his young colleague Miles Lewis-Skelly, he said: "We always know what he can offer. I remember when he played last season at the age of 18 at the Santiago Bernabéu against Real Madrid, and I thought then: what a player. The coach was strict with him behind the scenes, but he worked very hard, coming in early for training and putting in effort at the gym, so what he delivered didn't surprise me."

He continued about the team's development, adding: "What this club has achieved in recent years is not easy as football players, but the coach has asserted his full control, and we have continued to build and push each other, whether in the Champions League or the Premier League. We have played with maximum strength, and now we are in a good position before the end of the season. Sunday's match will be extremely important."

He continued: "We feel like we're starting to turn a corner again. We went through a period where we weren't at our best, and our performance was a bit rushed, but we've found a new way to play again. In football, confidence is everything, and I know that everyone is now fully focused."

He concluded about facing his former team West Ham United on Sunday, saying: "Without West Ham, I wouldn't be here. They gave me the opportunity when Chelsea didn't. It's painful to see their current situation, but that's football, and I have a job to do on Sunday. We are in the crucial stage of the season."