With a little help from Ted Lasso, Hodgson is happy to accept Eze compliment

BY ANDREW MCSTEEN

Crystal Palace attacker Eberechi Eze told BT Sport after their 4-3 win over West Ham United yesterday that the club’s players were “thriving” under boss Roy Hodgson.

And thanks to Jason Sudeikis, who plays the fictional American manager Ted Lasso of FC Richmond in the Apple TV comedy of the same name, which films at Selhurst Park, Hodgson is happy to take that praise after meeting the actor and others from the award-winning show on the pitch after the game.

Croydon-born Hodgson is in SE25 for his second spell as Palace boss and has achieved the goal he was brought in for – safety.

The victory at Selhurst Park against the Hammers took the Eagles to 40 points.

“It’s a wonderful compliment,” said Hodgson to the South London Press. “I’m at the stage of my life – and I’ve just been speaking to a very interesting man, Jason, who plays the part of Ted Lasso and we agreed that English people aren’t good at receiving compliments. We tend to shrug them off. I think I should receive and accept the compliment for what it is. I really appreciate it.”

Despite accepting the kind words from the player he signed back in 2020, Hodgson was quick to highlight how he and his coaching team may lay down the groundwork, but is those on the pitch who get the results.

“My point is this: that football matches are won by players. All we can do is provide the environment,” he explained.

“We can hopefully work hard in our preparation so that when they go into the game, they feel as prepared as they possibly can be, both individually and as a team, because as a team we work together – the left-back works well with the left-sided midfielder, his left-sided centre-back and also, he’s very much attached to when the ball is transferred, what his role is there.

“We can work on that. We always have.”