Chelsea boss Graham Potter makes Patrick Vieira claim ahead of Crystal Palace clash

Chelsea boss Graham Potter believes Patrick Vieira has done a “fantastic job” at Crystal Palace since taking over from Roy Hodgson at the start of the 2021-22 season.

The Blues are 10th in the Premier League – just three points above the South Londoners – heading into Sunday.

In Potter’s first Premier League game as Chelsea manager, a late Conor Gallagher strike from distance gave the two-time Champions League winners all three points.

In Vieira’s 64 matches in charge of the Eagles, they have picked up 85 points, scored 82 goals and conceded 81.

Palace have suffered heavy defeats against Fulham and Tottenham and have only won one game in all competitions – 2-0 at Bournemouth on New Year’s Eve – since the season restarted following the end of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“I think Patrick has done a fantastic job since he has been there,” admitted Potter. “They have always got dangerous players. They’re young players, so maybe they’re not always as consistent as they would like.

“But the quality that that they have with [Eberechi] Eze, [Michael] Olise and [Wilfried] Zaha, there are players there that can travel with the ball well, attack, and eliminate you in one-against-one situations.

“They have improved their build-up phase of the game – the two centre-backs [Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen] are good with the ball. They’re a competitive team.”