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Phillips Relishing Return To Palace
Leicester City first team coach Kevin Phillips is looking forward to returning to Selhurst Park when the Foxes take on Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Phillips played for the Eagles in 2013/14 before joining City as a player, scoring twice before taking a place on Nigel Pearson’s coaching team for the 2014/15 season.
Familiar with Palace’s hunting ground, the former Sunderland man admitted it will be a tough test but his side will be spurred on by their result on Sunday against Louis Van Gaal’s Manchester United.
Speaking exclusively to Foxes Player, Phillips said: “It’s going to be very tough because both teams have started very well.
“Anyone who’s been to Selhurst Park knows it’s a tight ground – it’s got great atmosphere as I well know having spent a year there.
“They set themselves up very hard to beat so we’re going to have to come up with some good ideas with a good system and good tactics.
“It’ll be a tough game but it’s one we believe, coming off the back of a fantastic result against Manchester United at the weekend, we can go there and hurt them and get a result.”
With a productive career spanning over two decades, the former England international admitted he will have to come to terms with facing his previous sides, five of which currently ply their trade in England’s top flight.
He continued: “I’ve pretty much got used to returning to former clubs throughout my career having played for nine teams – it’s something that I’m going to have to get used to!
“This will be my first time going back to Palace – I had a great year there and obviously helped them get promoted by scoring a winning goal and had a brief spell in the Premier League.
“I left on good terms with no animosity whatsoever. I had no regrets and I wished them all the best when I left.
“I had a great time and it was a great club with great support and I’m looking forward to going back to see some old faces.”
Becoming the first team ever to come back from two goals down and win against United in the Premier League is certainly an achievement.
The game will stick in the players’ minds but Phillips believes the squad have put their remarkable performance behind them and are set on earning another three points on Saturday.
He added: “From what I’ve seen in training since the Manchester United game suggests to me that they’ve put it to the back of their mind.
“All they’re focusing on now is the game in front of them which is Crystal Palace.
“As staff we need to keep them grounded – we’re only five games in and we could quite easily get carried away with ourselves.
“And before you know it you’ve lost two or three on the bounce and you’ve set into a bad rut – it’s important that the players see that.”
Familiar with Palace’s hunting ground, the former Sunderland man admitted it will be a tough test but his side will be spurred on by their result on Sunday against Louis Van Gaal’s Manchester United.
Speaking exclusively to Foxes Player, Phillips said: “It’s going to be very tough because both teams have started very well.
“Anyone who’s been to Selhurst Park knows it’s a tight ground – it’s got great atmosphere as I well know having spent a year there.
“They set themselves up very hard to beat so we’re going to have to come up with some good ideas with a good system and good tactics.
“It’ll be a tough game but it’s one we believe, coming off the back of a fantastic result against Manchester United at the weekend, we can go there and hurt them and get a result.”
With a productive career spanning over two decades, the former England international admitted he will have to come to terms with facing his previous sides, five of which currently ply their trade in England’s top flight.
He continued: “I’ve pretty much got used to returning to former clubs throughout my career having played for nine teams – it’s something that I’m going to have to get used to!
“This will be my first time going back to Palace – I had a great year there and obviously helped them get promoted by scoring a winning goal and had a brief spell in the Premier League.
“I left on good terms with no animosity whatsoever. I had no regrets and I wished them all the best when I left.
“I had a great time and it was a great club with great support and I’m looking forward to going back to see some old faces.”
Becoming the first team ever to come back from two goals down and win against United in the Premier League is certainly an achievement.
The game will stick in the players’ minds but Phillips believes the squad have put their remarkable performance behind them and are set on earning another three points on Saturday.
He added: “From what I’ve seen in training since the Manchester United game suggests to me that they’ve put it to the back of their mind.
“All they’re focusing on now is the game in front of them which is Crystal Palace.
“As staff we need to keep them grounded – we’re only five games in and we could quite easily get carried away with ourselves.
“And before you know it you’ve lost two or three on the bounce and you’ve set into a bad rut – it’s important that the players see that.”
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