Patrick Vieira says that he has found the “perfect fit” at Crystal Palace and that he is relishing the challenge of managing in the Premier League.
Patrick Viera said: “Every single manager who did not have any experience in the Premier League will go through those kinds of question marks. I’m going through that period – there is no doubt about that and that [does] not scared me at all. That is the process that I believe everybody will have to go through. What was really important for me was to find a place that I can put my ideas in place with the support that I needed, and that is why I believe that Palaces is a perfect fit for me.”
The Eagles under Vieira so far this season have been a markedly different outfit to the one Hodgson took charge of last season, with Palace now looking to dominate possession of the ball and force more chances on goal. That is reflected in the stats too. Palace are now averaging around 50 per cent possession, which is just over ten per cent more than they were averaging under Hodgson last season. There have also been more shots on goal (11) and fewer shots conceded (12.1), while individually the players look enthused with their new style.
Patrick Viera said: “It is the philosophy that I like. I will want to be on the bench and I want to see the teams playing with risk. It is important for the team to play with passion with desire, with competitiveness. This is what I find in the Premier League, but this is what I find as well in our football club, Crystal Palace. The fans are excited about players pressing higher, creating chances, scoring goals. It’s all about finding the right balance between the risk that we are taking and the mistakes that we can avoid”
The Frenchman, who took over at Selhurst Park in July, has settled into his new job quickly, and already has Palace playing a new style of football to the one fans were used to under Roy Hodgson. The chance to come in and implement his game so quickly was one of the things that attracted Vieira to the job in the first place, with the club’s owners backing him in the summer transfer window with around £60million to sign players that complimented his playing style. Palace’s decision to back Vieira – who had no experience of managing in the Premier League prior to joining – naturally raised a few eyebrows, but the Frenchman said he knew what he was getting to.
