‘Exciting change’ – Joel Ward on Crystal Palace’s appointment of Patrick Vieira

Crystal Palace defender Joel Ward says that he is excited by the club’s direction after the summer appointment of Patrick Vieira.

Ward, along with Christian Benteke and Nathaniel Clyne, were the only three players from the out of contract summer cohort to agree to new deals at Selhurst Park, with Andros Townsend, Gary Cahill, Patrick van Aanholt and Scott Dann all leaving.

The 31-year-old captained the side that crashed out of the EFL Cup on Tuesday night to Watford and has started all three games since Vieira took over.

Ward told PLP ahead of Saturday’s trip to top of the table West Ham United: “We had been used to life under Roy Hodgson, and things are different, and we are looking forward to that. It’s an amazing change and it’s an exciting change as well. The club is in a period where we’re moving forward, and we want to continue to move forward. That has always been the ambition of the club.”

Ward recorded the third-most touches of any Palace player in Tuesday’s cup loss, highlighting the style of play that Vieira is trying to implement in his new squad, which emphasises playing out from the defence.

“There are changes, for sure – the way in which we want to do things. We want to change the style as well, and that takes time,” said Ward about the differences between Vieira and how his predecessor Roy Hodgson set up his Palace defence.

He added: “We’re working tirelessly. We’re working hard to make sure that we are able to adapt to the way in which the gaffer wants to change.”

Asked if there had been any challenges adapting to the new way of playing, Ward said: “There are always going to be challenges when you try to change. In the games that we have played already, we have done really well. If you look at Brentford, or even the other night in the cup, we controlled the game for a large majority of the game and created a lot of chances.

“As a team, as each day goes on and each training session passes, we’re getting stronger and have a clearer pattern of the way in which we want to do things.”

Ward, who has been with the South Londoners since 2012, is the Eagles’ second-highest appearance holder in the Premier League, and he signed a new two-year deal in the summer that will see him rewarded with a testimonial in the future.

“To be at a club for this amount of time is special. The support of the club, the fans, the management that has been here over the period of time I have been here and the chairman, it’s been special.

“You don’t often see it nowadays; there are not many players who are due a testimonial. It’s an amazing journey and I have loved every minute of it. I continue to look forward to the future as well; there is still a lot of football and a lot of balls to be kicked between now and then.”

Looking ahead to Palace’s third Premier League match under the Frenchman, Ward says that Palace are planning to “give a good account” of themselves at the London Stadium on Saturday.

“We will make sure that we will prepare correctly in the way in which we do things and make sure we give a good account of ourselves.

“We will do everything in our power to make sure that we implement our game and our strategy and come out on top. We’re here to play football and win football matches.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD