‘Winning mentality’ – James McArthur outlines what Patrick Vieira has brought to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur says that new head coach Patrick Vieira has brought a winning mentality to the South Londoners.
Vieira, who had an illustrious playing career that saw him lift the Premier League title three times with Arsenal and the World Cup with France, joined the Eagles in the summer after Roy Hodgson’s four-year reign in charge at Selhurst Park came to an end.
The Frenchman singled out McArthur after the 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, lauding the vice-captain for his work ethic and attitude since he arrived at the club.
Ahead of Palace’s first Premier League home game of the season against newly-promoted Brentford, McArthur, speaking about the message Vieira has brought to his new squad, told PLP: “Winning. That’s one of the things he emphasises, that winning mentality.
“Just a small thing in training that we do is, no matter what it is, if you lose, there is a forfeit, and I think that’s important. We want to win every single game we play in, and not only that but in everything we do. If you make it (that winning mentality) in training, then you carry it on into games.
“A new manager has come in, and that always brings fresh challenges, but we’ve also brought in a lot of young faces as well. With that, the experienced boys need to try and help the younger lads progress. We saw it last year with [Eberechi] Eze and how he flourished.”
Vieira showed during pre-season that his Crystal Palace side will have the ability to attack games with different formations depending on their opponent and have the option of adapting to a Plan B, C and D in-game.
“It’s good because he [Vieira] is very detailed in what he wants,” said McArthur on the flexibility of formations. “It’s not a case of just ‘you’re changing to a 4-4-2, or you’re playing 4-4-3,’ he’ll describe exactly what he wants.
“It’s been good for us to transition like this and to keep trying to progress as a club because, in games, you’ll find maybe 4-4-2 doesn’t work, so he will change it to a 4-4-3. It’s important that we understand each role.
“As players, it’s good to get different ways of playing and different ways of learning as well. I’m more experienced now and getting older, and still having that chance to keep learning is very important.”
When asked what success will look like for Palace this season under Vieira, McArthur said: “It’s hard because at the start of the season you should never get carried away, or you should never be too negative.
“It’s about winning football matches, progressing the way we’re trying to play football, and it’s important to try and go into every game and try and win.
“For me, we need to try and be better than last year, and if we can do that, then we can keep progressing.”
McArthur will be playing his first home game in front of a full Selhurst Park since the 1-0 win over Watford in March 2020 and says it’s going to be a “joy” to play in front of the returning home fans again.
McArthur said: “Even at the game on Saturday against Chelsea, there were a number of fans there, and they made their noise heard. I’m sure that they will do that in their numbers and it will be a joy to play in front of them again. To have a packed-out Selhurst will be a big lift for us.”
PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD