Crystal Palace must shun direct approach and show confidence on the ball, says Jairo Riedewald
Jairo Riedewald has called on Crystal Palace to be more confident in possession after they failed to create a shot from open play against rivals Brighton.
Wilfried Zaha's penalty was their only effort on or off target across more than 100 minutes, with Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister equalising with a late deflected effort.
Riedewald, brought in for his first start since a defeat at Leicester in July as he came in ahead of captain Luka MIlivojevic to replace the injured James McCarthy, put on a fine display in central midfield, a rare calming presence on the ball as Palace dropped deeper and deeper into their own half with Brighton dominating.
Palace had just 29 per cent possession in the second half, and Riedewald says they must see more of the ball in order to improve.
He told Standard Sport: "I think when we had the ball we had a few opportunities to play a bit more, to take the extra pass in the midfield or with strikers, to keep the ball for a bit longer and we didn't take that opportunity to keep the ball in possession and hold the ball for a little bit more.
"We just chose the long ball, especially in the second half we played long balls a bit more and the pitch is going to be big, take that space to play in. They did that very well.
"It depends with every game. In this game, with a little bit more confidence and composure on the ball they have to run after the ball as well so they lose energy.
"I think when we had the ball we had a few opportunities to keep the ball on the ground and play football but we didn't do it, they got the ball again and came again very strong with five, six attackers.
"We defended very well and they just scored in the last five or six minutes which is always tough to take."
Riedewald, who misplaced just one late pass on Sunday, has struggled for chances and minutes during his time at Crystal Palace.
Brought in by Frank de Boer, who lasted just four Premier League games before being sacked in 2017, it has taken more than three years to gain the trust of manager Roy Hodgson.
After being played out of position as cover many times last season, an encouraging run in midfield during pre-season was brought to an end with a hamstring injury ahead of the new campaign, but now Riedewald wants to establish himself.
"I hope so," he said. "It has not been easy for the first two years I was here, I played a bit out of position at left-back or centre-back or wherever. I feel now that the manager has a bit of his confidence and trust in me, it took time but I am happy that he sees it now, my qualities and my potential.
"He is talking to me with the assistant manager a lot over the last three or four months saying what they expect of me and now it is up to me to show it every week, I will do that and hopefully I get more chances and game time in the future.
"For me personally I had a good pre-season, the manager gave me a few opportunities to show myself in midfield in pre-season and if I can say so myself I played some good games, right before the season I got a hamstring injury which was unfortunate.
"I came back stronger, fitter and if the manager is pleased with me and wants to give me a chance then I will always take them with both hands.
"I think it is tough to say something about my own performance yesterday because I just want to win the game."
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