Patrick Vieira acknowledges he now counts Crystal Palace amongst the golf equipment battling relegation however denies he feels any extra stress within the supervisor’s chair than he did when he took the job.
The Eagles facet sit twelfth within the desk with 27 factors, simply 5 greater than 18th-placed Everton within the drop zone, and stay and not using a win since beating Bournemouth 2-0 on New Year’s Eve.
Vieira’s tenure in south London has till now been the topic of occasional whispers, however Palace’s latest type – which has additionally seen them internet simply 4 targets throughout 9 Premier League matches in 2023 – has turned up the dial.
The Eagles boss, nonetheless, remained largely unfazed, saying: “Pressure? I had the pressure since the first time I signed in this football club. I had the first pressure since the first game against Chelsea a couple of months ago.
“This is what the Premier League is about. I think every single manager has pressure to perform, to play European competition or to stay in the Premier League, and I see myself as no different from every other manager.”
He was extra blunt about his facet, who’ve performed out 5 low-scoring or goalless attracts in 2023, and face one other robust check in opposition to high opposition when Manchester City journey to Selhurst Park on Saturday seeking to decide up three essential factors of their very own within the title chase.
For all their inconsistencies, Palace have spent eight consecutive weeks in twelfth place and their fixture listing doesn’t get simpler any time quickly, with a midweek journey to in-form rivals Brighton earlier than going through league leaders Arsenal on the Emirates Stadium subsequent Sunday.
“I think if I’m sitting in front of you and telling you that I’m not concerned it will be a lie,” stated Vieira.
“Of course we are concerned, of course we are aware of our position in the table. It’s important for us to remain calm and keep working and keep improving. We have a tough week ahead of us and it will be important for us to try to get points, but if we want points we have to play well.
“The table is what it is. We’re still five points clear, of course, but anything can happen, and we have to know that we are part of those nine, 10 teams who have to fight to stay in the Premier League.
“But we are in a better position than some of the teams. That will be enough? No. And this is why we have to prioritise our performances. How can we improve ourselves as a team to allow ourselves to win those games?”
