On reflections from Sunday’s loss at Old Trafford…
We took many positives from this game. But also on the other side, we could see what we can and have to improve. This is what we showed the players.
This is what we trained. I said it when we started in January in the front with new players to get each other known. Therefore, every game, every experience is helpful.
Now we are starting the crunch time in the UEFA Conference League. We are starting the crunch time in the Premier League. We are on top of it.
Everybody is in the best shape and we are in the best shape as a team. I think we are not there right now, but I feel we are going step by step into the right direction.
On Tottenham’s winless run of 10 games…
Of course, we know about their situation. The strange thing is that I think they were top eight in the Champions League.
I know they have had many injuries. The new manager [Igor Tudor], we don't know exactly how he will play: he played in a 3-5-2 against Arsenal and in a 4-4-2 against Fulham. I know him because he was Marseille's manager when we played them with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League. They played in the 3-4-3 and very often mirrored their opposition.
I don't know exactly how their approach is. But yes, of course, they are under pressure.
We want to show a good performance there. That's the thing that we can influence, we can affect, and that's the most important part: to defend very well, having a good structure and also being confident like we started at Old Trafford.
I think we had a great start into the game [on Sunday], in possession, moving the ball quick, creating chances, playing a lot of the time in their half. And this is what we need at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as well.
On Evann Guessand…
He’s had a good start. He's always able to create something. On the other side, he still has to learn our structure, the way we are playing.
Also, he didn't play so many minutes at [Aston] Villa. That's why I rested him at Old Trafford, because he had 90 minutes for many weeks against [Zrinjski] Mostar.
He's a good player, he's a player who can score, who can assist – giving something special, doing things that nobody expects.
On memories of winning away at Tottenham last season…
Looks good. Sounds good. We'll stay in the same hotel!
Of course, we'd take the same result as last year. It was a very good game from us. But different managers, different teams. Also, we have some other players, some new players, compared to the last game.
But we feel better now. We feel more consistent now, and this is what we want to show.
On balancing Premier League and European commitments...
I just can talk about our situation. And I think what we can also see is, because Newcastle are a little bit similar – doing very well in the Champions League, struggling in the league… we are not struggling, we are where Palace has always been, and we play the first time European football...
But yes, if you're not used to it, then it's unfair to compare to teams like [Man] City, like Arsenal, teams always playing European football. Their players are used to this rhythm. They know how to deal with the situation.
I think I mentioned it, it was our 43rd game at Old Trafford and they [Manchester United] had 30. Usually it's the opposite – and we were competitive. This gives me a good feeling.
And I heard an interview with Antonio Conte at Napoli, because they were struggling with some injuries as well. And he said it’s a little bit like a rat race: everybody wants to qualify for Europe, but it means more games. You need to get the money from European football, to get the attention from European football, but you need a bigger squad. You have to pay higher wages at the end. It costs more when qualifying, so that's a little bit irrational. But it is how it is.
I think last year City were struggling with many injuries. November, December they had big problems. I remember I called Pep in summer. We were interested in a player of theirs and he said: ‘no, no way, we need a bigger squad, because we struggled massively last year’.
And I think this is what also you can learn when you play the first time European football: to have a team that is ready to play. Just talking about us, it's a far way to g, but at the end of the season, we could have played 60 competitive games, and that's around 50 percent more than Palace have ever played.
That’s massive and that affects everything. But we want this, to be honest, and that's a challenge. And that's why I really appreciate that here in the club, everybody was really judging the situation knowing the circumstances, knowing the amount of games, seeing the effort of everyone.
We weren't really pleased with the situation in some weeks or months, but we had our explanations for it, so that's why we could really work – and we always work together in a very good way.
On preparing to face Igor Tudor for a third time in his career…
We're always focussing, because this is what we can affect, on what we can influence.
The players had off yesterday, but today we had a good, intense training. Before we had a long video meeting about what we have done well against United and what we can do better.
Because we don't know if they play a back three, a back four, how we want to press them or not. We don't know. Usually, Igor Tudor pressed man-to-man, this is what they did most of the time in these two games. But also against Arsenal, they were sitting in a very deep block.
We have to be prepared that they can change it within the game, and we need to have the right answers, and that's why we're always focussing on our game, let's say, at least for 90% [of the time].
Match Details
Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace
Thursday, 5th March
Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+.