Roy Hodgson admits to 'sleepless nights' as he looks to guide Crystal Palace towards Premier League safety

  • Crystal Palace are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table
  • Roy Hodgson's side have won one and lost eight of their first nine league games
  • Palace welcome fellow strugglers West Ham to Selhurst Park on Saturday 

Roy Hodgson says he will pack in football the day he stops having sleepless nights after bad results as he prepares for Crystal Palace's crunch match with West Ham on Saturday.

The 70-year-old's return to the Premier League has not gone according to plan, with Palace inside the relegation zone by five points.


A win over West Ham would not only take Hodgson's side closer to safety – it would also give him a rare good night's sleep.

Roy Hodgson says he will pack in football the day he stops having sleepless nights

Roy Hodgson says he will pack in football the day he stops having sleepless nights

Crystal Palace crashed to a 4-1 defeat by Bristol City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night

Crystal Palace crashed to a 4-1 defeat by Bristol City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga

Asked whether he had gotten better at dealing with pressure, from his experience with clubs and England, Hodgson said: 'I do not know. It is pretty much like the classic question: is there an easy way to break somebody's heart?

'I do not think there is. I do not think there is an easy way to deal with the pressures that we subject ourselves to when we take the job.

'If I start complaining the pressure is too much for me then someone will ask me why I took the job and why I did not stay like I was between England and taking the Crystal Palace job.

'I took the job because I wanted the pressure. I wanted the experience. I wanted to work with the players again. I believe I can make a difference. I believe I can help.

'I took the job, that brings pressure and I will have to deal with that. Do I like it? Do I still get the sleepless nights that all football managers get after bad results? Yes, I am afraid I do.

'That has not changed with time. Maybe when the day comes when it does change, and you can just as happily go home when you have won or lost, that is probably the time when you should not be in it anymore.'

Crystal Palace remain deep in the relegation zone after a bad start to the season

Crystal Palace remain deep in the relegation zone after a bad start to the season