In the opening match of the Champions League group stage held this morning, Arsenal defeated Napoli 1-0 away. After the match, Rice shared his thoughts on the game during an interview in the mixed zone.

Including the Community Shield, the team has won all five official matches, conceding only one goal. The team is in excellent form, and the players' confidence is sky-high.

Indeed, at this stage of the season, the most important thing is to start well and build momentum. Since the first day the team returned to training, the coach has been pushing us to raise our standards and give our all in all competitions this new season. We've had a great start, and next we face Sunderland away, which will be a very tough match.

Football is a team sport. Let's talk about you personally. You're on the Ballon d'Or shortlist; you must be very proud.

Of course, being nominated for the second consecutive year is remarkable in itself, and I am very proud. I certainly aspire to win this trophy, but I also very much hope that Kane can win it. I genuinely wish him all the best.

You've dealt with minor injuries before, and your season was interrupted. Are you back to peak form now?

Yes, this summer I had a complete three-week rest without any training, allowing my body to fully recover. I returned to the team refreshed and ready to start fresh. I'm in great form now and hope to maintain it.

Let's talk about your teammates. Ødegaard has also regained his peak form this season.

He has world-class ability, there's never been any doubt about that. Last year, he suffered two shoulder injuries and a meniscus injury, which would be tough for any player. But look at his performance in the World Cup and his start to this season; that's the Ødegaard we know and love. He has already scored 3 goals and is our captain. We need to keep feeding him the ball and let him create opportunities.

Last season, you played a total of 69 games for your club and England. Can you handle such a high workload?

Over the past six seasons, starting from my time at West Ham United and including European competition, I've played more than 60 games each season, so I believe it's sustainable. Past experience has proven that I can do it.

The key is to maintain form and ensure consistent performance. For me, the most important thing is to play every week, perform well, and help the team win. I'm fortunate to have always been able to do these things, and I'm eager to do so again this new season.

Did your World Cup experience frustrate you? From the outside, it seemed you had to constantly manage injuries and couldn't complete games as usual.

It was indeed very difficult. Everyone knows about my hamstring issues. After an intense Premier League and Champions League season, having to participate in the World Cup was too much of a physical burden. Whenever I wore the England jersey, I wanted to be energetic and give my all.

During that period, sometimes I was in good form, other times not at my best. I also got sick before the match against Norway, which made things even worse. Many things frustrated me, mainly that I couldn't perform at 100%.

However, there were also matches where I played well, such as against DR Congo. I had to manage my body while playing. As I said, I rested completely over the summer to let my body heal, and now I feel great.

How does it feel to play against De Bruyne again?

It feels great. Even though we won tonight's match, he still posed a lot of threats. He has extremely high football intelligence and always finds excellent space. Having played against him for so many years, it's a wonderful feeling to meet him on the field again.

With Guimarães now in midfield, the competition for midfield spots is even more intense. Do you think this can push you to a new level of performance?

I feel very fortunate to play alongside these teammates. We have six outstanding midfielders. No matter who the coach selects, I will support my teammates. I experienced the feeling of winning the title last season, and that is my goal again this year. With this midfield lineup, no matter who plays, everyone will support each other. I am very much looking forward to starting this season with everyone; it will be a special journey.

You previously mentioned your dissatisfaction and fighting spirit. After losing the Champions League final, you said in an interview that you wanted to reach the semi-finals again next season and challenge for the final. Is your desire for this competition still burning?

Of course, we also have new signings this season. Looking back at our Champions League journey in recent years, we have the strength to challenge for the title; we just need to take that crucial step. It's only September, and there's a long way to go in the Champions League, with many tough matches ahead.

We need to embrace the challenge and see where this journey takes us. This is why we play football. Losing the Champions League final is a painful feeling, and watching PSG lift the trophy is etched in my memory. So, let's see what happens in the Champions League this season.

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