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Crystal Palace director Roy Hodgson spoke to the media this afternoon (Friday) in anticipation of the Eagles' game against Tottenham on Sunday in the England Cup.
The Eagles host Mauricio Pochettino's men at Selhurst Park on Sunday for the fourth round draw, which will be broadcast live on BT Sport and start at 4pm.
At his pre-game press conference, the palace boss talked about the latest news about injuries in the camp, new rookie Lucas Perri, January transfers and opponents of his team for this week -end.
Here's every word he had to tell reporters.
There has been a lot of talk about transfers this week. Can we ask questions about Cenk Tosun? Is this a player that interests you?
(Image: PAUL ELLIS / AFP / Getty Images)
"I'm not ready to talk about any particular players, because we could be here all afternoon if I had to notice the players we are so interested in, I would spend all my time on it. I have nothing to report, if it is that we hired a goalkeeper, Lucas Perri, from Sao Paulo, a youngster who, in our opinion, will be an badet to us at the moment. ;to come up. "
You seem to be tied to a lot of attacking players. Is this a concern you are studying?
"It's because two players are coming back from long-term injuries. Connor Wickham, after two years of absence, and Christian Benteke coming back from a serious operation. We do not know at this point how long it will take before it's back to the player that we know it can be, so we do not have a lot of options d & # 39; attack.
"So it's not surprising that we are connected in terms of speculation transfer with attacking players, but we have players, and that depends a lot on how it works for Connor and Christian in terms of recovery. "
How is their recovery going and what is the latest news about injuries?
"The only other problem, aside from the two goalkeepers who are still recovering, but who are making very good progress, is Pope Souare who broke up on the shoulder. This is a serious injury and it should be absent long enough. I can not put a time scale on it. This is certainly not here a week or two.
"The others are fine." Connor [Wickham] He's trained all week, as is Christian Benteke. They do everything they can at this point of their return. "
Are they available for the game?
"They are available unless nothing happens tomorrow morning. This can always happen after long-term injury, something searing. But I do not envision that happening. I think both will be available to play.
Wilfried Zaha sparked discussions among the best European clubs. Does this concern you?
"We do not know it. All I have, is your opinion on that, that is, Sky's. There was absolutely no dialogue between Borussia Dortmund and the Crystal Palace Football Club.
"If I make comments every time a club is linked to Wilf Zaha, I will talk about it for a long time.
"Wilf has signed a long-term contract with Crystal Palace, he's really our player, I would be very surprised that there are clubs that would not think he's very good, but that does not say that they are going to try to buy it. "
What have you already done Lucas Perri and what will he bring to the club?
"I met him yesterday and I saw him train this morning. Doug Freedman found it during his travels in South America. He made a good impression. So we lent him an option to extend the contract, which we thought was a good idea. My first impressions are the ones Doug had had when he met and saw him play.
"But it's a little early to start singing his praises too much, I've only been following one training session with him, and I'm happy to have a player of this type." and of that quality, eager to be successful and excited to be here in England.It's hard to find good 21-year-old goalkeepers. "
What is your reaction to Wayne Hennessey accused by the FA?
"We did our own investigations here. I think we have nothing to say on the subject.
"This is a process that the AF has now started, and we will have to see where this process goes and we have to let it go, I said very clearly how I felt about it a few weeks ago and there is nothing else to add. "
What did you do Spurs last night? And do you expect a reaction?
"I thought that they had done a good job and that it was a very good performance. Chelsea has always been excellent, dominating the first half. The Spurs returned very well in the second half. Then, it is a question of drawing a penalty shootout. It's a hard way to lose. Tottenham is one of the best teams in the country.
"Mauricio Pochettino has made it clear that he intends to fight on all fronts, and they will be disappointed that the chance of reaching the final is beyond his reach. It is a competition that they are ready for a very difficult match.They have two players in less, of course, but we have a few also absent from our goalkeepers # 1 and # 2. "
What positives can you take from Anfield?
"Well, you can make the most of good performance. It was a very good performance, defensive and offensive. It's difficult after a performance that could easily bring you points in a match where you do not have to get points without a point.
"But we thought we played well, our pace was excellent, our offensive and defensive form was good, scoring goals at Anfield was a good effort, and we hope the players' confidence will not be undermined. that is, he should have been stimulated. "
The last round against Grimsby may have been more difficult than expected. What can you learn from this?
"What are you learning?" Every game is different, and the Grimsby match will not affect our preparations for Tottenham, I can not imagine Tottenham coming here and placing 10 men behind the ball for 90 minutes. , pledging us to take advantage of the possession of the ball we have, it will be a very different game, Heroic effort from Grimsby.
"At least we turned our dominance into at least one objective to bring us to a successful conclusion – lessons, nothing to learn at all – but of course having a very interesting match on Sunday, it could have ended at 0. -0 and, if Grimsby would have been delighted and we would only have to congratulate them. "
Do you like the FA Cup?
"I love when I win. Magic of the cup, they dream. It does not look anything like the sparkling price of my youth because we have the Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. The clubs talk a lot more about it, in terms of ambitions: winning the Premier League and qualifying for the Champions League. Few people have the ambition to win the FA Cup.
"The FA Cup is always won by the best teams and our position in the table is not as good as we would like it to be. What is my ambition? To advance in the FA and go to the semifinals or finals, or stay in the Premier League, my ambition is to stay in the Premier League. "
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