I said no to Anfield …and Barca
Defoe’s Cherry blossom
FRANK DE BOER will be given a tour of a kingdom that could have been his when he takes Crystal Palace to Anfield today.
The Dutchman will see for himself the conditions and heritage of a club he could have managed two years ago had he agreed to succeed Brendan Rodgers.
De Boer also turned down another of the great jobs in world football, pulling back from managing Barcelona.
Both offers had come too soon for De Boer, who eventually left Ajax in Holland for Inter Milan then eagerly accepted the chance to work in the Premier League.
He wanted his coaching education to be complete before the top jobs came along.
“Liverpool approached me but I turned them down immediately because I just wasn’t ready,” said De Boer, who will today be at a club and a stadium he calls one of the most fantastic in football.
“I didn’t think two seconds about it. I was happy with Ajax and I also didn’t want to break my contract. Of course I was very flattered.” After leading Ajax to four Dutch titles, De Boer’s ability caught the eye of Johan Cruyff, an unofficial adviser at Barcelona.
“I had a message from one of Johan’s assistants, an invitation to take over at the Nou Camp,” said De Boer. “I turned that down too. Again I didn’t feel ready.”
It was a different story when Palace came knocking.
“This time I knew I was ready, I knew about the Premier League and how competitive it was,” said De Boer. “I knew I wanted to be involved, and I was eager to feel it, and smell it.”
Three years ago Palace came from three goals down at Selhurst Park to force a draw that cost Liverpool the title.
And the Eagles have continued to defy the odds by winning at Anfield – results that have left manager Jurgen Klopp seething.
Despite Palace’s humiliating home defeat by Huddersfield on EDDIE HOWE is backing Jermain Defoe to roll back the years when he makes his second Bournemouth bow today.
Howe was a teammate of Defoe at the Cherries when the striker, then 18, set a league record by scoring in 10 successive matches during a loan spell in 2000-01.
Defoe’s career will go full circle today against Watford and manager Howe said: “Jermain is a lot wiser. He’s had some unbelievable experiences in football and also in his personal life which shape you. I can’t speak highly the opening day, De Boer will not be forced into breaking up the side, although he is without Wilfried Zaha, who has a knee injury.
De Boer will stick to a passing game and a flexible 3-4-3. “I’m not a man to suddenly change things if we run into problems,” he said. “We played a new style but I’m not going to use that as an excuse. “I know how competitive Liverpool will be but we have to improve and the players know they need to get a result, especially those who were in the teams that won at Anfield.
“Yes we had a rough start and in this league you get punished for mistakes. This week we need to execute.”
“Probably both teams were not overly happy with their opening game,” said Klopp after Liverpool drew with Watford.
“It was how a first game can be. Palace want to strike back but it’s Anfield and we have to show this. I’m really looking forward to Anfield as it was a long time ago that we played there.” enough of him and how he’s integrated himself into the squad.
“In terms of his game I don’t think too much has changed. He’s a massive goal threat, his finishing is of the highest order and his movement is always something that has stood out for me.”
Troy Deeney will return to Watford’s squad after groin surgery but his starting place is no longer guaranteed. The captain was regarded as the Hornets’ talisman and the first name on the teamsheet but new head coach Marco Silva now has options in Stefano Okaka and Andre Gray.
Deeney has reacted positively in training, desperate to impress ex-Hull manager Silva.
“Troy has started normal training with the team since Tuesday,” said Silva.
“He’s starting to get fit – he had one week of pre-season until last week and it is important now we get him fit again so he can show me his football and show everyone what he can do to help the team.”