Andersen happy at Crystal Palace and playing for Vieira | OneFootball

Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen is enjoying his football under manager Patrick Vieira.

One of the Premier League's all-time greats and a formidable, fearsome midfielder as a player, is Vieira similar as a manager?

"Err, no, he is actually a really, really good guy," Andersen smiled.

"I would say he is a joker. He wants to joke with the players, to be close to his players so that's a little bit different from the managers I had recently. Scott Parker was also a little bit like that but when I was in Italy and France there was, like, a distance from the manager. I like that you can talk with the manager, joke around.

"He asked me what I was doing yesterday and the other way round so to build the relationship is nice."

Andersen, who turned 25 in May, fitted the mould of younger player Palace wanted for Vieira's new-look team.

As well as the average age, Palace's style is changing too.

"I also know Palace from different seasons under Roy Hodgson and it is a totally different way of playing," Andersen said.

"It's a way I like to play football, from the back, aggressive in the pressure, press high, just be on the front foot and when you have the ball more, for me it is easier to defend, you feel better in the game, you feel like you are in the game. It is a big change because Palace the last couple of seasons have been more like a counter attacking team, have kind of sat back and now it is totally different.

"hat's my style of football and why I came here. I want to play with the ball and use my strengths with the ball and my knowledge so of course that was the main reason I came here."