Frank de Boer insists he needs 'more time' at Crystal Palace as Eagles head to Burnley for decisive clash
The Eagles boss claimed he hasn't been in the job look enough to make a judgement, claiming "normally you have 10 games to think ‘this is the way we like to play’"
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Under-fire Crystal Palace boss Frank de Boer said his process will take time, even with his job on the line after just four games in charge, but insisted that Palace are "getting better."
“It always takes time” said De Boer when asked if he deserves longer to turn Palace’s fortunes around, and the Eagles travel to Burnley on Sunday having lost all three of their league games this season, including a humiliating 3-0 home defeat to newly-promoted Huddersfield on the opening day. They are also yet to score a goal in the league.
The Dutchman insisted that, for now, he is simply focusing on Turf Moor, but it is a game where his job remains on the line. The board have reportedly told him it is a must-win game, and have already sent out the feelers to potential replacements. Owner Steve Parish has even gone so far as to publicly admit Palace’s start “has not been great” and spoke of a results business.
But fielding questions about the speculation engulfing him, De Boer denied it was affecting his process and insisted this was nothing new for someone who played for Barcelona and Ajax.
“I am always aware there is speculation as a manager. I have played at clubs where pressure is always high when you don’t get results. I always try not to get involved in emotional things, just concentrate on things you really can have an effect on; training with the players and trying to change things soon.”
Whether or not he remains at the club, De Boer insisted he wants to give his all. “I always look at the glass half full, if I leave I want to leave through the front door not the back door. They can always say afterwards he did everything he could, always 100%. I will do that.
“Normally you have 10 games to think ‘this is the way we like to play’. We only had four pre-season games, three Premier League games and one cup game. We still are still [at] 7 or 8 games played.”
“I think still we can improve a lot in how we want to play. When you analyse the three games we lost, we had a good performance against Liverpool. We didn’t give many chances away. Swansea had two and a half shots on goal, we had eight or nine. The points were negative but there were some positive things I am focusing on. The stupid mistakes we have to get rid of, but I am convinced every week we are getting better.”
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