Palace boss Vieira: Challenging week with Manchester City, Brighton and Arsenal to come

Patrick Vieira has admitted that Crystal Palace are set for a challenging week with Manchester City, Brighton and Arsenal the next three fixtures before the international break.

The Eagles are still searching for their first win of 2023, with the gap to the relegation zone down to just five points.

Palace, whose last victory at home came in the 1-0 win against Southampton in late October, have only won one of their last 14 outings in all competitions.

The Eagles host City on Saturday evening, travel to Brighton on Wednesday night and then have to play Arsenal on the following Sunday.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side are second in the Premier League and chasing down Arsenal for top spot.

“Something that I’m sure about the group of players I have is that there is no fear. There is no fear at all,” said Vieira.

“There is excitement to face one of the great teams in the Premier League. It is a challenge.

“It will be a challenging week for us.

“But it is a challenge we want to face and we have to prepare ourselves to be up for it. Then what will dictate the result will be our performance.

“The important factor is always about sticking together in the good and bad periods. 

“It’s important for the players to understand that we are all part of what we want to try to do. 

“There is a togetherness that I always love and I still see it in the players – I see them working every day and want to do the right things to win games. 

“We have been a bit unlucky lately as well. If we keep that kind of togetherness from top to bottom, we will come through those things. We went through kinds of situations last year.”