Roy Hodgson has no idea what his Crystal Palace bosses are dealing with amid speculation that the club and management are actively looking for his replacement.
Hodgson’s side are just five points clear of the relegation zone after winning just three of their last 15 Premier League games and have been hit by an injury crisis after losing Michael Olis, Eberech Eze and Marc Gueh in their last two games.
Hordes of fans have held up protest banners and clashed with players in recent weeks, and news of the key trio’s absence is another blow to supporters desperate for a glimmer of hope ahead of Monday night’s clash with Chelsea.
Former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper is rumored to be Palace’s front-runner to replace 76-year-old Hodgson.
“I just completely put it aside, andquot; said Hodgson.
” No one in the club, I haven’t heard anything from the president or the sports director in that regard.
“I have no idea about their thoughts or plans. I’m waiting for them to tell me someday.
“I don’t think I need worry about outside speculation at this point because it always seems to be happening somewhere. Ten Hag has been under huge [scrutiny], Mauricio Pochettino has been under huge criticism recently, even Eddie Howe, people have spoken and names have been thrown around.
“The future will take care of itself and it will be nice if the work there ends like I did four years ago. It will be great. Maybe you can, maybe not.
“In the meantime I have to be strong and tough and the players have to know that he will not change, he has not read the paper and he will come here one time very agitated.
“He comes every day the same and treats us the same every day, they plan to practice every day, they push us every day. And that is my only motivation”
It’s a soft move by Hodgson, who may be worried about job security and “disrespectful and” after Palace’s 3-1 win against Sheffield United ended 2023 and eight games unbeaten.
Hodgson will watch his 200th Premier League game for his boyhood club when he takes charge of the Eagles at Selhurst Park on Monday night, with supporters particularly andquot;haurtandquot; to disappoint
Although it is true, finding positives and joy can be difficult andquot; Amid Palace’s “very bad patch”, Hodgson insisted he still needed inspiration on the training ground and never lost motivation.
He added: “The fact is that this is my last spell in football. I took the job knowing that at the end of the season I wouldn’t be working here or anywhere else.
“Could come earlier than the end of the season, who knows. Nothing has changed in my attitude towards it, my desire to do this job right and my love for the club.
“That club has been good to me, no doubt about that. I can only try to be good to them, but they will judge that from the outside*
