Man City manager Pep Guardiola explains Patrick Vieira advantage at Crystal Palace

Pep Guardiola praised the way Patrick Vieira has developed Crystal Palace as Manchester City prepare to face them in the Premier League.

Vieira, a former City academy coach still seen as a potential first-team manager in the future, has made a bright start in South London that included claiming the scalp of three points at the Etihad. City were stunned back in October as they slumped to a 2-0 home defeat.

City could do with three points at Selhurst Park to keep their momentum in the title race as Liverpool chase them down at the top of the table. Guardiola has enjoyed what he has seen from Vieira so far, even if it makes his job harder on Monday night.

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"The team we faced was really good," he said. "Crystal Palace was always difficult for us but away too was so difficult, I had the feeling he was already good with his intention to try to play and make high pressing.

"They couldn’t do it much but the intention was there. And then like when they had Roy Hodgson before, when they defend in the box they defend massively well. Through the months, in the last eight games, they have just lost one - in the last minutes to Chelsea - that means he’s doing really well.

"Patrick knows perfectly the Premier League, having been one of the best players of all time in this league. He knows the stadium, the media and the smell of the competition. That is a good advantage and personally, I'm happy he's going well."

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