Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira delivers verdict on Roberto De Zerbi’s start to life at Brighton & Hove Albion

Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira has said he is ‘not surprised’ by Roberto De Zerbi’s start to life at Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Italian head coach, who has also coached Shakhtar Donetsk, Sassuolo and Benevento, replaced Graham Potter at The Amex after the Englishman left to join Chelsea in September.

De Zerbi has won 21 points in 14 Premier League games since taking over at the Seagulls, with his side sixth in the Premier League table and six points off the Champions League places.

Tomorrow’s 3pm kick-off will be the first time Vieira and De Zerbi have played each other as managers.

“You can be surprised if you don’t know him,” said the French World Cup winner, speaking to the media ahead of tomorrow’s clash at Selhurst Park.

“But if you follow him and his journey so far, his teams have always managed to play some good football.

“What he is doing at the moment with Brighton, I’m not surprised. When a new manager comes into the football club, he’s always going to bring new ideas and try and change a couple of things. The philosophy, I think, is still the same. 

“This is a team who love to have possession and try to find those players between the line and try and create an overload to expose the opposition team.

“I followed him when he was at Italy with Sassuolo, and he played some really good football.”

VIEIRA PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD