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FRANK DE BOER says leading Crystal Palace to mid-table safety will be as satisfying as winning trophies at one of his giant, previous clubs.

De Boer is set for his first taste of life battling in the bottom half of the table after taking over as Palace boss this summer.

He spent his illustrious playing and managerial career tasked with challenging at the other end with clubs such as Ajax, Barcelona and Inter Milan.

Ahead of his Premier League bow against Huddersfield, De Boer (above) said: “I’ve always played for and managed teams whose first objective was to be champions. This is another objective.

“I can be very happy at the end of the season if we are a solid club and I can say, ‘hey, we didn’t once look down’.

“Okay there is no trophy if you are placed 12th or 10th but it is also a fantastic achievement because that is what they expected of the manager.

“If we achieve that I will be as happy as I was when lifted a trophy. I am convinced I will feel the same.” De Boer also determined to continue blooding youngsters as he did at Ajax. His three signings are Ruben LoftusCheek (below), 21, Jairo Riedewald, 20, and Timothy Fosu-Mensah, 19. And De Boer said: “They are really hungry to perform. “If they show their qualities they could be fantastic players for every club. “We did it with Davy Klaasen now at Everton, and Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Christian Eriksen at Tottenham, because they got the chance.”