‘Return of fans will motivate’
ROY HODGSON insists players will not have any excuses for a lack of motivation once fans provide a “wonderful explosion” on their return to stadiums following the Covid-19 lockdown.
The Crystal Palace manager admitted it has been difficult to adapt to empty stadiums and sterilised matchday environments, but it has not dulled his, or his rivals’, passion for the game.
Today’s visit of Aston Villa to Selhurst Park is set to be the last Premier League fixture without supporters in the stands because of the pandemic.
There will be 6,500 in attendance for the derby against Arsenal on Wednesday as the next stage of the Government’s road map out of lockdown kicks in.
Hodgson said: “You will see an explosion when the fans come back.
“They’ve been starved of what is so important to them.
“You will see a wonderful explosion when it opens up fully at the start of next season and then if anything, no one will have any excuse for showing the right passion, the right enthusiasm and the right energy.”
And he added: “Any excuse you may have had will be taken away as soon as those fans return and make it perfectly clear what they expect from you.”
Hodgson’s Palace reign is expected to come to an end once his contract finishes at the end of this season.
While he says he will be the one to announce any decision, retirement is not on the agenda for the 73-year-old, especially after coming through these unprecedented times.
He said: “It would be a lie if I didn’t say it was hard.
“It’s not been easy to equate that to the football you know before. It’s not been easy to retain the love and passion, although I don’t notice a particular softening of the approach of my colleagues on the other side.
“They still seem to be as pent up as stressed on their side as we do.”