Team news?
Joel Ward started training on the field but he didn’t do any kind of team training so he won’t be involved tomorrow.
How do you approach tomorrow’s game selection wise?
It’s a competition we want to do well and go as far as we can. We have a home tie and it's an advantage we have to use. We want to go to the next round and I will try to put on the field the best XI that will allow us to go to the next round.
Another match against EFL opponents. The opportunity is opening up for Palace to go deep into the competition?
There’s still a long way but the tie is at home and that is massively important. Regarding the team (opposition) being in the Premier League or Championship, the difficulty is going to be there and the challenge is still there. There is no easy game in the cup and we need to be ready mentally and approach it with the same intensity and competitiveness that we approached the last game with in the Premier League. There are no differences in how we will prepare the game and how we will approach the game or in the starting XI that I will put on the field.
Hard to focus while things going on in Ukraine?
It’s really difficult because you wake up with the news and go to bed with that news and it’s really difficult to understand what's going on around the world, especially in Ukraine. Our prayers and thoughts are with the Ukraine population. Football or no football, I hope it will end very soon.
Disappointed by FIFA response?
It’s sport in general. Football is not different from other sports. If we can use the sport and use the authority of sport to influence peace around the world, we should do it. Sport, football in particular, is really popular worldwide and football is really important. If we can use that importance to bring peace between those two countries, then we have to do it.
Would you have changed a goalkeeper in a penalty shoot-out? (Kepa/Mendy for Chelsea)
Football is a really funny sport because when Thomas Tuchel made it work last time everyone praised his decision and today everyone questions it because it didn't work. It’s what we have to deal with. He’s the only one who can answer that question. To be honest, it’s not something that I like to do or plan to do if it happened to us. He has his reasons, just because it didn't work this time doesn't mean it won’t work next time.
How much emphasis are you putting on this match?
I don’t think we are out of trouble in relegation. We are in a good position compared to the other teams but we know how important and difficult it is to win games. We’ve got all of the players available the majority of the player are fit and they all want to get involved and play the game tomorrow. It makes it even more difficult to choose the starting XI. We want to win games and build confidence, create momentum. We want to go to the next round and this is why we will compete at our best to try to win the game.
Can an FA Cup run help league form?
Yes, it can create a positiveness around the team and club, players and fans getting really excited, we want to build those momentous experiences. It’s important for the players to be excited about it because it brings positiveness around the training ground and around the games. As a player, it’s a really important competition for the club and the team and we want to do well. We are feeling good, players are feeling good, physically we are in a really good shape and there’s no reason why we should focus on only one competition.
Spoken to players about your own experience?
No.
Maybe when you get to the final?
No, I never talk about my past.
Fans still love FA Cup more than anyone else?
The fans dream of making the trip to Wembley and it’s part of the English culture. It’s massively important. The fans are maybe getting more excited than the players but it’s important for us as a staff, as a player and as a manager that we understand what the competition can bring to a squad, build positive momentum and get excited about going as far as we can. This is an important moment in a player’s career.
Sport right now can lift spirits away from other news?
Sport in general and football has tried to make people, in general, think about something positive. But you can't close your eyes to what’s going on at the moment. I hope we will stop that war as soon as possible and if sport can influence the leaders to make the right decision then we should use that.
Is that likely to happen? Is sport that powerful to have a decision?
I think it is but you need your leaders in sport to make the right call and decision and put the right kind of pressure.
How confident are you that those decisions will get made?
I hope the decision will be positive because we all want peace and don't want to see the images we’ve been seeing lately.
Is there one moment in your playing career in the FA Cup that stands out, and have you allowed yourself to dream of winning as a manager?
You always remember the first one and the last one with Arsenal and the last one with Manchester City. The first time with Arenal was a special moment, it was when I discovered the love and the passion for the FA Cup with the fans. The last kick winning it with Arsenal was special after nine years at Arsenal and stopping my career at City by winning the FA Cup when they were building a strong team; to be part of that group was good memories for me.
As a manager, you want to do well in every competition. If you can win the FA Cup it will be a dream come true but we are still quite far and there is still a long way to go and there is an important and difficult game against Stoke. They have done really well so far in the competition and they have nothing to lose. Looking at their squad and their XI they have players with experience who did well in the Premier League, they know how to play these games. We have to be our best, focus and concentrate to win.
