Crystal Palace set to go with strong line-up as Vieira determined to progress in EFL Cup
Crystal Palace head coach Patrick Vieira says that he plans to “compete” in Tuesday’s EFL Cup tie against Premier League rivals Watford.
The Frenchman secured the first point of his reign on Saturday with a 0-0 draw against Thomas Frank’s buoyant Brentford.
The Eagles failed to make it past the second round of the competition last season, bowing out after a dramatic 11-10 loss on penalties to Bournemouth.
“I see it as important for us to win football matches,” said Vieira ahead of the trip to Vicarage Road. “We are at the beginning of the season. Players are feeling strong, feeling good. There are two games before the international break, and we will play these two games with the best starting 11 that I have.
“We will play all the games with the desire to win them; I don’t think we can choose which competition we can go into. As a football club, we don’t have this privilege, we have to take one game after the other.
“So the next one is on Tuesday, and we will put a strong team out to compete because it’s important for us to build momentum. It is important for us to build our confidence. It is important for us to win football matches to win games. So our objective is to win the next one.”
Vieira handed 18-year-old academy product Jesurun Rak-Sakyi his debut in the 3-0 defeat against Chelsea and named three other fellow graduates on the bench in Rob Street, Reece Hannam and Scott Banks.
Speaking on the possibility of handing more minutes to the club’s youngsters on Tuesday evening, Vieria said: “Yes, but again, the young players, they need to have a chance, but they need to earn it as well.
“I will use this cup game to build on the confidence, and if on Monday morning, if every player is available, it will be for me to put the strongest team out because we want to compete in this competition.”
PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD
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