TIME IS ALREADY TICKING FOR DE BOER

FRANK DE BOER insists that if his time at Crystal Palace ends sooner rather than later, he’ll be able to look himself in the mirror and say he did everything he could.

And the Dutchman reckons that, unlike compatriot Louis van Gaal, the former Manchester United manager, he would then leave England with no regrets.

De Boer is under serious pressure at Selhurst Park after losing each of his first three Premier League games since coming in as Sam Allardyce’s replacement. Eagles chairman Steve Parish could even wield the axe if they lose against Burnley today.

De Boer (right) said: “I’m always fighting to get to where I want to go.

“I will do that to the last second I’m here, and hopefully there will be a lot of years to come. They never can say after, ‘Yeah, he didn’t do enough’. “I will always be positive and I know I can always look in the mirror and say I did everything to get the best results for the club and team.” De Boer sought out his old Barcelona coach Van Gaal for advice before taking the job. He added: “I spoke to him before I came to Crystal Palace. I asked him ‘How’s the Premier League? What about assistants? Did you bring your own staff?’.

“The only thing he regretted about his time here was that he played 3-4-3 in pre-season, and then he lost the first game and changed it to 4-3-3. He regretted that – and that’s why you have to stick to your own philosophy.

“After six months, you’ll see you’re getting more back. It always takes time.” But time for De Boer might be in short supply.