Crystal Palace manager, Roy Hodgson has described 2020 as ‘complicated’ in his matchday programme address to fans ahead of their final game of the calendar year against Leicester.
Acknowledging that this year has been ‘a traumatic time’ for both club and fans with mixture of frustration and loss of ‘loved ones’, Hodgson admitted that everyone have seen life change in massive ways.
The ex Liverpool manager proceeded to discuss his feelings on lockdown given history of previous pandemics throughout time, saying; “It is difficult to say how I felt when the league was suspended because we’ve become so accustomed to life in a pandemic where people talk not only about weeks and months but years.
“I don’t think any of us had any inkling that would be the case when this started.”
Hodgson soon admitted that he believed the suspension of football was a “very temporary setback and a sensible precautionary measure” and not the start of “… a complete shutdown of football, let alone a shutdown of our daily lives.”
Football however did resume in June behind-closed-doors with training resuming in what Hodgson described as “very strange circumstances” with small group sessions in which players had to bring their own balls and train 20 metres apart whilst trying to avoid all contact.
Hodgson describes that experience as one which he could never of imagined and “one nobody enjoyed” despite the players adapting well at each stage of the return with “… patience, understanding and ability to withstand an environment which provided limited enjoyment…” plus no tantrums or reduced effort from any player.
Staff were also [raised for being “very diligent and careful…” in ensuring no rules were broken with everyone kept safe and no training ground closures, which has befallen some clubs in the top four divisions across recent weeks.
On-pitch performances however faltered post-lockdown due to a massive injury crisis with just four points from their final nine games of 2019-20 season, which left Hodgson feeling “a very bitter taste in the mouth.”
On the topic of behind-closed-doors fixtures, Hodgson admitted that he never expected to be managing in this sort of situation although he accepted the advantage of this experience, saying; “… I suppose it’s one thing to add to those many experiences which football has given me.”
He also felt glad that the season had finished with his former Liverpool team crowned champions whilst teams were promoted and relegated throughout the top six divisions.
Hodgson overall though is glad to wave goodbye to 2020 in which he described it as “never going to go down as the most enjoyable footballing year of my life.”
On hopes for 2021, Hodgson said; “Tell me the vaccine will be here, people will return to normal life, shake hands and hug one another and spend time before and after games talking about football and their lives.”
This challenging year though hasn’t impacted on Hodgson’s love for the game with the 73 year-old saying; “Other than those temporary measures, nothing has changed my interest and love of football.
“In fact, it’s been the training sessions and daily contact with players and staff that has made this year as bearable as it possibly could be.”
Addressing the absence of fans, Hodgson spoke of how much a difference fans can make, saying; “We’ve felt for ourselves how much of a difference your presence makes and how much better football is for us and for you when you can be here.”
With Palace currently seven points above the Premier League relegation zone and conceded ten goals in their last two matches, Hodgson spoke of the importance of supporters rather than fanatics who “… are understanding of our situation and realise what we need to do.”
Hodgson proceeded to describe Palace supporters as “proper supporters…” who should be proud of a team which has spirit and produces the results needed to avoid relegation without having not “broken the bank” in the transfer market.
Concluding his summary of 2020 and looking ahead to 2021, Hodgson admitted that Palace “… have a big fight on our hands to have a good season.”
The former England manager also commented on how he owes gratitude to the fans for producing “… the emotion and lifeblood to pull us through on many occasions.”
To purchase Crystal Palace’s matchday programme against Leicester, please click HERE.
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