Former Crystal Palace star makes best fans admission and amid surprise Patrick Vieira claim

Former Crystal Palace star Bakary Sako has been speaking about his time in South London and the reappointment of Roy Hodgson.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Former Crystal Palace star Bakary Sako says re-appointing Roy Hodgson was a smart move even though Patrick Vieira deserved more time to try and turn things around and save his job.

Former Arsenal Invincibles captain Patrick Vieira enjoyed his first season at Palace, excelling in the league with an exciting brand of football, he also reached the last four of the FA Cup, falling to Chelsea who were beaten by Liverpool on penalties in the final.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In total- Vieira managed 74 games for the Eagles, winning 22 and losing 28 before being sacked and replaced by the man he replaced just 18 months prior.

Bakary Sako who played for Palace between 2015 to 2018 says he’d have wanted Vieira to be given a chance to try and save his job even though Hodgson is the best to have in a chaotic situation the club found itself in.

Sako told England365.gr: “They started the season well and now they’ve struggled a bit, but that’s football with a lot of ups and downs.

“They sacked Vieira, I think he should have been given a bit more time, they have a young team. But to get Roy (Hodgson) is really good because he knows the club and the team that has had some success here, so I think he’s the right man for the situation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Roy is the coach who started using me as a centre-forward, he was very good with me and he thought a lot of me as a footballer.

“He knows what he wants and knows how to get the best out of his players. His experience in England made him one of the best managers in the Premier League .

“Also, when I left the club the first time, he did everything to get me back. I had a good relationship with him and I returned to the club.”

Crystal Palace fans are renowned for their unrelenting support even when times are hard and Sako, who now plays his football in the Greek Super League says their support made him settle in quickly when he first arrived at Selhurst.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He added: “I’ve had a great time at Crystal Palace, the club has really helped me settle in with my family and I’ve always been a fan favourite, so it helps a lot as a footballer to feel at home every time I go on the pitch.

“Crystal Palace are the only team in England who have ‘fanatic fans’ who have followed us all over the UK.

“I remember when we played the FA Cup final at Wembley, the stadium was going crazy. And in every home game they continue to support us regardless of the result. Maybe that’s why I think most of the time we scored a last minute goal. It was due to their incredible support.”

Palace will travel to Leeds United this weekend after coming from behind to beat Leicester City last weekend, their first league win of the year.