BY SAM SMITH
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has admitted that it’s changing into more durable for mid-table Premier League groups to compete with Manchester City.
Two targets in as many second half minutes condemned the South Londoners to a 2-0 defeat in opposition to the Champions-elect at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Palace have overwhelmed City only one throughout Hodgson’s three-and-a-half years in cost. An Andros Townsend stunner was among the many targets in a shock 3-2 away win in December 2018.
And the 73-year-old believes video games in opposition to sides such because the Champions League semi-finalists will solely change into more durable for groups of Palace’s ilk.
Hodgson was requested if it was unfair that the Eagles are in the identical division as Saturday’s guests.
“No, I don’t suppose it’s unfair. I have to congratulate Manchester City on placing such a improbable squad of gamers collectively, and in addition in protecting all of them on board in the best way Pep has accomplished,” the previous England head coach stated.
“It’s not straightforward to deal with 20-25 gamers, all of whom – as they’ve proven in opposition to us – are greater than able to enjoying within the Premiership and doing a really, very, good job within the Premiership.
“It’s robust, and it doesn’t get any simpler, for the groups who aren’t of their class to compete with them, that’s for certain, as a result of sadly they don’t have weaknesses.
“There was a time previously when among the higher groups with very gifted gamers… you would perhaps get one thing in opposition to them since you labored more durable, otherwise you had been extra aggressive, otherwise you had been extra bodily, otherwise you ran and fought greater than they did.
“Unfortunately, the highest groups of at this time don’t even offer you that chance. Not solely are they higher in different areas, however they’re simply pretty much as good as you – if not higher – within the areas I’ve simply been talking of.
“It’s unfair, if you happen to like, for these of us who aren’t of their class going through up to the prospect of making an attempt to deal with them, like we did. I believed we did fairly effectively, additionally in dealing with it for 60 minutes.
“But you realize someplace alongside the road that there’s a threat… I believe it was Mendy who drove the ball into an incredible space and Aguero’s contact and end – that’s going to land in your doorstep, and it’s going to be very, very onerous for you to deal with it.”
Related
Please assist your native paper by making a donation
Please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and ship by submit to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has inspired everybody within the nation who can afford to achieve this to purchase a newspaper, and advised the Downing Street press briefing not too long ago: “A free nation wants a free press, and the newspapers of our nation are underneath vital monetary stress”.
So in case you have loved studying this story, and if you happen to can afford to achieve this, we’d be so grateful if you should buy our newspaper or make a donation, which is able to enable us to proceed to deliver tales like this one to you each in print and on-line.
Everyone on the South London Press thanks you for your continued assist.
