‘If I don’t change the system’ – Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira defends style of play

Patrick Vieira has defended Crystal Palace’s style of play in recent weeks and admitted it is difficult to always play the type of football that fans want to see.

The Eagles have not picked up a win in 2023 and have only scored 20 goals in 22 Premier League games this season.

Palace, who head to the Brentford Community Stadium tomorrow, have recorded just five shots on target in their recent three outings in the league.

“The problem is that I never win,” said Vieira, when asked whether there could be a shift in style once the Eagles emerge through their tough set of upcoming fixtures.

“The manager is always in a difficult situation. Because we lost a couple of games, I changed the system, and we get a couple of points here and there.

“If I don’t change the system and we keep losing games, the question will be: ‘Why didn’t you change the system because you didn’t get the result that you wanted?’.

“I believe that it’s important for me to analyse the squad in the team that I have and try to find the best way to get points. 

“Fans, in general, will want us to play a certain way. That, at times, is difficult to do.

“Every manager always wants to win games and to play the best football but, at the same time, you have to realise who you are as a football club. 

“You have to realise how competitive the Premier League is and it is important to find a system that allows you to compete. 

“When you manage to compete, it is about how you work with the players and try to find the details that will allow you to win football matches.

“Those details are about not conceding a goal and trying to score goals. When you analyse our game and not just base it on the result, it’s about, did we create enough chances to score more goals?”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD