On 10 wins in 18 games in all competitions this season…
It’s now November. We’ve already played 18 games. 12 will follow before the end of the year. In many other countries, this is the full season of a league. We played it in three-and-a half months.
It just shows at the moment how this group is working. Very often, we were told ‘are you ready for playing four competitions?’ We’ve just played three at the moment.
Winning a big trophy, then starting the start of the season with winning the Community Shield… for a team that’s not used to being praised everywhere, sometimes you can get a little bit laid back and chilling, and then you get punished.
I can just repeat it because I mention it so often: this group is so ambitious. When you once try honey, you want it again because it’s sweet.
I think this is what the players [want]: they won the trophy, and it was sweet. It was nice. It’s not like: ‘oh, I don’t like it anymore. I want sour again.’ No, they want sweet again.
They work really hard. You see it in every single game, in every single training. They’re so professional. That’s why we have almost all the players available. We have a very tight squad. We decided to keep a tight squad.
We don’t want to send four or five players away before a game. Again, credit to them because the players are the ones who have to perform on that level.
On having plenty of games ahead…
If you have the momentum, keep it going.
Again, I just get all the stats from my staff. We’ve still the highest xG in the whole of Premier League, creating the most big chances in the Premier League. Even today, we had almost four of xG. We’re really always creating, creating, creating.
This is how we want to play. If a player needs a rest, he gets the rest. But again, sometimes we train harder, not in one session, but in two sessions, and there is one game. The players want to play. That’s the best way.
I think it’s our job to find the right balance. But at the moment, it looks like they’re enjoying it. I told them again before tonight’s game that this is the third home game in Crystal Palace history in a European competition.
It’s the second in a major competition in 120 years. I said: ‘you made it happen.’ These players made it happen for our fans.
Let’s enjoy it, not see it as hard work. No, that’s the reward for winning a trophy.
Everybody, and this is my feeling, our fans, they are enjoying it. They say: ‘wow, European football here under the floodlights at Selhurst.’ Great, great.
This is what we want to keep as long as possible. Let’s see.
