Patrick Vieira backed to take the defensive shackles off Crystal Palace

BY ALESSANDRO SCHIAVONE

Former FC Metz manager Vincent Hognon has tipped new Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira to be a success in the Premier League. And he is confident that the Eagles will break new ground in the way they set up and play, after years of pragmatic football under his predecessor Roy Hodgson.

Hognon was on the wrong end of a 4-1 scoreline by Vieira’s OGC Nice when both sides faced off in Ligue 1 in December 2019 and experienced the extent of Vieira’s attacking efficiency.

Vieira, once an indefatigable and hard-working midfield gladiator, is the first member of the legendary Arsenal Invincibles from 2004 to try his hand as a full-time manager in the Premier League after Freddie Ljungberg’s unsuccessful stint as a caretaker at the Emirates Stadium in 2019.

Hognon has described Vieira as someone who likes to take the game to the opposition and play attacking football.

Hognon said: “We lost 4-1 against Vieira’s Nice but at that time we were weak. And we were not good enough that day. But Vieira is someone who likes to dominate possession and take important risks. His teams play attacking football.

“With Metz we did what we could that year, it was a difficult period for us and we hadn’t strengthened enough in the transfer window. Nice were head and shoulders above us.”

A fresh start is just what the Palace supporters wanted and Hognon is optimistic that they found what they were looking for with Vieira carving his new Palace side in the image of Arsene Wenger’s iconic Arsenal team which he skippered to glory thanks to his infectious leadership and box-to-box qualities.

Vieira’s Gunners were a team that liked to attack in numbers, charge forward and camp around the opposition’s box. But despite an obvious gulf in quality and personnel Palace could be in for a similar attitude on the pitch.

Last season Palace had the third-worst attack of the non-relegated sides in the entire division but things are likely to change.

Hognon added: “Maybe the physicality of English suits him better than French football which is more tactical. But it depends on the team he has at his disposal and how he is shaping his team. Will he have the players that are suited to his style of play? That’s very important. Vieira has his own style of play but now he has to make sure his players adapt to it. But as I said Vieira likes to play on the front foot and take risks.”