RYAN TAYLOR FROM EXPRESS
Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira has jumped to defend crisis-hit Chelsea – stating the Eagles would be fools to underestimate the Blues despite their recent slump. The Frenchman’s confidence-shy side travel across the capital to west London on Sunday with a burning desire to wrestle back control of their alarming form, which threatens to cloud the club’s eye-catching start to the Premier League campaign.
Palace have won just one of their four matches since returning to action following the mid-season break and have been on the receiving end of two one-sided thrashings against Fulham and Tottenham before being dumped out of the FA Cup by bottom-of-the-table Southampton.
But if Palace are struggling for morale, Graham Potter’s Chelsea should provide the perfect appetiser following the Blues’ miserable midweek defeat at Fulham – which means they have won just one of their last nine Premier League matches.
Their wretched run of form is of no interest to Vieira, however, as he took the chance to defend Chelsea and Potter’s quality – something he believes will eventually shine through.
“We look at the squad that they have, we’re looking at the quality of the players that they have and the quality of the manager that they have,” a defiant Vieira declared.
“At the moment, yes they are in a difficult period and everything is going against them.
“There are so many teams in that kind of position. But that doesn’t take away the quality that they have.”
