Treating yourself to a getaway to charming Selhurst Park in the south-east London suburbs is surprising. The flamboyant game deployed by Crystal Palace contrasts with English traditions where long balls and athletic duels find more of a place in the hearts of spectators than double passes.
Succeeding the aging Roy Hodgson on July 4, Patrick Vieira has revolutionized the face of the “Eagles” who remained in a disappointing fourteenth place.
This season, the Londoners are sailing in tenth position while constituting the surprise of this FA Cup. The reasons for this attractive exercise lie in the Frenchman’s desire to place possession as a major principle of his tactical scheme.
Such a desire can only follow if the squad is full of elements comfortable with the ball. Thanks to the Gallagher revelation, on loan from… Chelsea, their opponent this Sunday in the semi-finals, the “Glaziers” have a key player capable of dictating the tempo of the match, while looking for formidable combinations. Enough to offer Zaha, Ayew, Edouard and Benteke numerous possibilities against the opposing goal, even if the Red Devil has returned to the bench for a month.
Holder at the start of the season, the former Liégeois has only played 29 minutes since February 9. If the competition is strong, the attacker could receive a few minutes of play against the “Blues”. Being decisive in such a shock would allow him to regain points in the eyes of his coach to end the season in style.
