Patrick Vieira keen to add extra sparkle to Crystal Palace’s attacking playing

Patrick Vieira has stopped short of setting a target for his Crystal Palace side for the 2021-22 Premier League season – but is expecting them to show greater attacking intent.

The French football legend has been appointed as Roy Hodgson’s successor at the South London club.

Vieira signed a three-year contract with the Eagles. He has previously had managerial spells at Nice and New York City.

He became football development executive at Manchester City after hanging up his boots.

Vieira, when asked about his goal for the coming campaign, told Palace TV: “My hope is to get the best of the player. We want to put a philosophy in place that they understand really well, so when they go on the field they can express themselves. My responsibility is to make that talent work well together.

“I want to be on the front foot. I want us to score more goals and more shots on target than we used to – but at the same time keep this mental strength that the team created in the last couple of years to be even stronger.

“I will be really demanding because I feel with the players we have around – and the new players we are bringing in – we can achieve a lot.

“It’s a really exciting challenge. It is a crucial period for the football club. We are looking forward to a new chapter. I’m really proud and happy to be part of it.

“What was really important to me was the stability of the football club. When you have a chairman [Steve Parish] who is passionate about this football club, you have Dougie Freedman – who was an ex-player and is now sporting director – you have the structure with the new facility, the new academy. The foundation of this football club will allow me to give my best to this football club.

“I knew all about the link from the first team to the academy. The link between the fans and the player. When you put all these kind of ingredients together, I strongly believe it is the perfect project for myself.

“Spending a couple of years at City and working with some of the best young players in this country helped me to understand what you need and what it takes to develop young talent. This football club has a really good reputation of developing young players.

“It’s seeing whether I can bring some of my experience to them to produce even more players.”

PICTURE: SEB FREJ / CPFC.CO.UK