If someone said at the start of the season you’d be three points off ninth, what would you say?
We never talk about positions at the start of the season. We knew we'd have challenges with young players coming through but I'm satisfied and really happy with where we are in the table. I'm more satisfied with the performances that we’ve had and satisfied too with how our young players have performed. We're not finished yet as we want to finish the season well. There's a lot more to come from the group of players and the team. We’ll have to keep treating games the same way, keep challenging ourselves to improve and use the season as a strong foundation to keep progressing individually and collectively.
Important to finish the season strongly?
It is really important. In every period you learn a lot about players and they will learn about me. Who I am as a coach and what I expect from them. They’ll learn what I expect from them until the last day.
What have you learned this season as a manager?
You come to a new club with new staff. The support has been really good. The staff, there is more we can do to improve the quality of our team. It's been a really good season but it's not over and at the end, we'll review the season. Looking at the quality of the games and which areas we need to improve.
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Roy Hodgson return, what type of reception do you expect for him?
I don't have any doubt about the way our fans will welcome him back. He gave a lot to this football club and I think the fans will be, like always with him. It’ll be nice to see him back as I believe the last four years he spent at this club he built the foundation that allowed me to work with the players today. I’m looking forward to seeing him.
Thoughts on Watford?
Mathematically still anything can happen so while there is hope I expect them to be fighting. We expect them to work hard. When you get to this position players are playing for their careers and some are playing to have different opportunities at the end of the season. There won't be a lot of space for us to express ourselves. We'll have to move the ball quickly.
Have you worked on defensiveness specifically since Hodgson left?
It’s the consistency of what we want and are working on. If you want to win games and don’t concede goals there’s a better chase. At the start of the season, it was one of our main aims. The second phase, we are better defensively. Of course, we’re stronger when everyone works well off the ball. This is down to our wingers too - Zaha working hard, Jordan on the other side and our front players.
Hosted an event with Down Syndrome Eagles recently, did you enjoy it?
We're talking about a connection between players and fans. Those kids love Crystal Palace and our players and we wanted to create a moment they will keep in their minds that they will remember. It was a lovely day and the players were fantastic with them. Hopefully, they had a really good time. The truth always comes out of the mouths of kids. Some of them were showing Wilfried and Ebere Eze how to take penalties!
Team news for Watford?
Everybody trained this week and the only one [out] is Nathan Ferguson who is following his individual training on the field. Hopefully, he'll train with the group before the end of the season.
Will Ferguson make the matchday squad before end of the season?
That isn't the target [getting him back into the matchday squad before the end of the season]. We want him training with the squad in the last week so he'll be in pre-season fully with the first team.
Zaha's winner came from him playing centrally vs Southampton, is that somewhere he wants to start?
I will have to convince him and that will take him. It's a position I believe he can play as he's strong holding the ball, like he did with the goal. He can link the game and drop in midfield, I believe it's a position he can excel in for us.
Does he complain a lot?
We had a few conversations about it. He doesn't say no but it takes time for him to buy into it. Wilfried loves football so you can put him on the right, he will complain and still do the job. Put him at the nine and he'll do the same. He's good because he can play all three positions.
Joachim Andersen has been immense this season, what are your thoughts on him?
Joachim has been fantastic to us. He's building a really strong relationship with Marc Guehi. He's really important for us with how we want to play the game and those two will go stronger and stronger. He's been doing really well. Everyone talks about other players around him but I'm really pleased and happy with his performance. He's a top professional.
Did Roy's work here build a platform for you to succeed?
He built this kind of stability. the kind you need to be a Premier League team. He managed to keep the team in the league when it was really challenging. He did a fantastic job. I came on with those players who have a good experience of the league and it allowed me to bring in young players and find a balance to maximise potential. When you have a solid foundation it gives any new manager a chance.
Do you think Watford's regular managerial appointments work?
It's always difficult going to a team in the middle of the season, especially when they're not doing well. Stability will help you have success. When going to a team struggling it's always a massive challenge and it's going to be difficult for any manager.
Will some of the young players be playing soon?
I always think the last few games we have to build for next season. There are some young players who have been with us who will get involved. I will always have a mind to put a strong team out to win football matches and yes, I will give some opportunities to young players but they'll need to be surrounded by key players.
