End of the transfer window will be critical for the rebuilding of Crystal Palace – South London News
Crystal Palace’s new head coach Patrick Vieira has called the club’s summer overhaul “brave” and the Frenchman believes it was the right time for the Eagles to make such a significant change.
Along with the departure of Roy Hodgson and a handful of staff in the back room, the South Londoners allowed nine senior first-team players to leave the club in the summer for free, including Patrick van Aanholt, Scott Dann, Gary Cahill and Andros Townsend.
But since the 45-year-old was named Hodgson’s successor in early July, the Palace hierarchy has begun adding young, ambitious signings to Vieira’s new squad, including Michael Olise, Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi and Conor Gallagher.
Vieira said: “We all know that it takes time to grow together as a team. We lost 10 players and we got five so we’re relatively weak. So the end of this window will be really important for us to get more players – that will allow us to be more competitive.
“As a football club, we thought it was the right time to do it – we had to do it. It’s the end of a cycle and it’s important to start a new one. When you make these decisions it will not be an easy decision, but the club have been really brave in making these decisions.
“Now it is important that we try to play good football and win football matches. People need to realize that was the right thing to do, and the football club was really brave to make that decision. “
After an unbeaten preseason, Vieira visits Stamford Bridge in his first test to face Champions League winners Chelsea. When asked if he felt any pressure before making his professional debut as Palace head coach, he said: “When you decide to get into the Premier League, the pressure is part of our daily fundamentals.
“It won’t put more pressure on me than any other coach in the Premier League.
“When you enter the Premier League, you have to live with this pressure. You have to deal with such pressures due to the expectations and demands of the Premier League. I know how challenging it will be and I am ready for it.
“There is no doubt what I can achieve as a coach and there is no doubt what we can achieve as a football club.”
With Palace’s summer business far from over, with Vieira citing midfield and forward positions as areas where he says his squad is “short”, chances are the club’s academy players will get the chance to win the French World Cup to impress winners in the early stages of the season.
“Some of them will have the chance to be part of the first-team squad,” said Vieira. “It is very important for the football club that these young players come through the academy. We have a few of them that are very interesting and we will work with them and try to improve them and give them the opportunity to show what they are capable of. “
PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD
