Vieira insists Crystal Palace ‘will take the Carabao Cup seriously’; Zaha discusses his future

News Desk
Vieira discuss Crystal Palace

Patrick Vieira has insisted ahead of Crystal Palace’s third-round tie against Newcastle United that his side are going to “take the Carabao Cup seriously”.

If Crystal Palace win on Wednesday night, they will qualify for the fourth-round of the competition for the first time since 2018.

The Carabao Cup could be put on the back burner by clubs this season given the gruelling fixture schedule caused by the World Cup. But Palace will not be one of them.

“Of course, we are looking forward to it. It’s a competition we want to take seriously,” he said on the club’s official website.

“Going to Newcastle with the way they are playing makes it more difficult, but we had a draw there where we competed well and we will compete. We never choose which games to play and not to play.

“We will put the best team out there and compete. Playing those three games in a week does not make it easy for us but we will have a team that can compete.”

The Eagles travel to St James’ Park buoyed by their first away win of the season at the weekend as they snatched a late victory at West Ham.

Vieira had been frustrated by his side’s results on the road, but knew a win was coming.

“I’ve seen an improvement (away from home),” Vieira added. “All the games we have played away from home, every single one outside Everton we played and competed.

“It was just a question of time. I always believed we were (doing things) in the right way and the West Ham one was a good performance overall.”

Palace star Wilfried Zaha has been in great form this term but his future is in doubt with his contract expiring next summer.

He has moved to quash transfer talk as he is “devoted to Palace”.

“How many times have I seen my name next to transfer stuff – I never speak on these things,” Zaha told Sky Sports.

“My contract is up when my contract is up and the only thing I am focused on is doing well for the club, that’s it. I take each day as it comes.

“I don’t know what will happen in the future. I can’t say this is my plan as I’m only fixated on what I’m going to do in training and then on Sunday [against West Ham].

“I’m very devoted to Palace and that’s all I’m thinking about.”

READ MORE: Ranking the Premier League clubs on how badly they might be affected by the World Cup