patrick vieira manager
Thoughts on the game?
The first half, not disappointed. I think Liverpool was the better team. I think we tried to close them down but the way they move the ball around, it was quite difficult for us to put more pressure on the ball. So it was tough, it was really challenging those first minutes for us. And when they had their good period they scored those two goals. And in the second half, we came back into it where I believe physically, we took over and the momentum was on our side. We had the chance to score that goal which was, I believe, a really good play. Then we had that momentum and a couple of situations and chances that we didn’t play especially well. But I was proud of my team and with my players with the way that we come back in that second half.
How pleased were you with the reaction from your players in the second half?
I was really proud. That was a really positive reaction. This is what I expected. This is what I wanted from them. They gave it to me by looking at the fans behind us as well. I think we tried our best to get the points from them.
Two key decisions in the game were the possible offside for the second goal and then the penalty. What was your take on those?
‘Possible offside’ – these are words that aren’t going to be acceptable in our world. He is offside or he is not offside. He has an impact on the game or he doesn’t have an impact on the game. He had an impact on that situation so it must be offside. And then the penalty, I don’t even want to talk about it because I don’t want to be disrespectful to the referees, and to the referee today, because I can’t understand how he managed to give that penalty, because I look at it in every single angle and I still don’t understand how that can be a penalty. That decision took our hope away to get back into the game and to get the points. So that was a really poor decision by the referee.
First goal from a set-piece again is that worrying?
Not at all, when was the last time that we conceded corner? Exactly. Sometimes you have to accept that the corner has been taken really well and then van Dijk, the timing and the accuracy he had and the way he played the ball – it can happen. Yes, we should defend better. But in situations like that, when you look at the physicality of the two teams and you look at the goal that he scored, sometimes you have to accept it. But that [still] doesn’t mean we shouldn’t defend it better.
Players missing from both sides but Palace coped well for long periods?
I think both teams were missing players and that is what we need to deal with. When you look at Liverpool’s squad, I think they can miss anybody and they always have a players to manage. And we miss players as well. But you look at the players who play today and who play the last couple of games I’m really happy with the attribution to the team.
How did you rate Jean-Philippe Mateta’s performance?
I think he worked hard, he worked well. The situation where he gives the ball to Edouard shows the type of player he is. He is a team player and I’m really pleased. I’m really happy with what he is showing at the moment. The more games he is playing the better he is feeling physically and that’s really good for us.
Why do you not think it was a penalty?
The reason behind that is having those meetings with the referees and explaining to coaches about contact being part of the game. And if there is a situation like that, if there is not an obvious contact, there will not be any kind of penalties. And this situation and when you’re looking at Jota, I believe, was quite really smart. And the same time the referee was quite really naive or the VAR, was quite really naive. There is no way that Jota could get the ball back and try to score or there is no way that Vince [Guaita] and Jota would have a contact because of the situation where they were.
Was Alisson the difference today?
I think he made some important saves at important moments of the game. And that as well, I think when Liverpool had their good period in the first half they score goal those two goals. We had moments in the first half where we didn’t take them and in the second half, we had periods, we had moments where we didn’t take our chances. So I think the game reflects quite well about as well where we need to improve [our] maturity and playing those kinds of games against those teams will make us improve because when you look at our front three today, games like that will make them better players. So it was a difficult challenge for us. And I think we gave ourselves the best chance to get something from the game. And obviously, that decision from the referee took our hope away.
