Paddy McCarthy couldn't have asked for a tougher start to his managerial career as he prepares to take his Crystal Palace team to Arsenal on Sunday.
The Raheny man has been put in temporary charge of the Eagles following the sacking of Patrick Vieira and faces a daunting trip to the Emirates Stadium to take on the Premier League leaders tomorrow afternoon. The 39-year-old former Palace captain has been in charge of various underage sides at Selhurst since retiring in 2016 but steps into the hotseat, assisted by Under- 21s Assistant Coach Darren Powell and former Republic of Ireland international Dean Kiely.
And while he is relishing the "massive moment" in his fledgling coaching, McCarthy said the main focus is securing a result for Palace, who are without a win in 2023. “Obviously it’s a massive moment for myself, but ultimately it’s not about me,” he told Palace TV.