Daunting but it’s possible to beat City
CRYSTAL PALACE boss Roy Hodgson admits that today’s game at Manchester City is one of the most daunting of Premier League away days.
But he says his team will not be overawed and warned that the smaller clubs must never feel they have no chance against the big teams.
“Daunting is probably a good word to use but it depends how we interpret it,” he said. “Is it, ‘We know if we want to pull a result out of the bag then we need some special moments?’
“Or are you deflated and feeling this is not a game you want to be in? I would be disappointed if we were going there thinking we had no chance. That won’t be us.
“It’s one of the 38 games we have to play and it’s one of the tougher ones because we know we are playing against such a good team.
“But as far as we are concerned this is another opportunity to show we are a good Premier League team and another chance to get points.
“It won’t be easy but it is far from impossible. The day it becomes impossible for teams like Palace to get results against Manchester City, the league might as well just fold up and we’ll do everything on paper.
“The game is played on grass and we are not beaten yet.”
Asked if the fixture represented a ‘free hit’ for his side, he jokingly recalled City’s visit to Selhurst Park last term.
“When they came here around about this time we managed a nil-nil draw and even gave them a free hit of missing a penalty in the last minute, which was generous of us,” he said. He expects his team to have more than their share of defensive work, although not out of choice.
“You won’t see situations like I used to encounter with Inter when teams would play for nil-nil and ask if you could put up with all their incredible time-wasting tactics,” he said.
“Parking the bus is not an English thing to do. But most teams whether they like it or not will find themselves penned inside their own half by City.
“First they attack you and ask questions and when you do get the ball they are so good at winning it back.”