Ever the model professional, Nathaniel Clyne was typically diplomatic when it was pointed out to him by supporters that he used to play alongside assistant manager Paddy McCarthy and coach Shaun Derry!
The trio were in attendance at a supporters’ event at Detroit City Clubhouse, where fans gathered to pose questions to first-team players including Academy products Clyne, Tyrick Mitchell and JK Gordon, as well as coaches McCarthy, Derry and Dean Kiely.
And a very pertinent question indeed was raised when one supporter queried Clyne on what it was like to be coached by his former teammates, who all played first-team football for the Eagles between 2008 and 2010.
“It’s different!” Clyne laughed. “Obviously, I used to play with them. I used to look up to them as players and now, I follow them and listen to what they’ve got to say! They’re bossing me about and telling me what to do – it’s different!
“But I’m enjoying it and it’s always good to work with them, see them, and hopefully we can do good things this season.”
Now entering his eighth season as a Crystal Palace player, Clyne reflected fondly on his journey to this point.
The defender smiled: “I think the changes [to the club] have gone immensely well since the first time I was here.
“If you see what they’ve done with the Academy, they’ve brought in new, top-range facilities that are admired all over the country. They’ve done ever so well producing young talent that they’ve got right here [in Mitchell and Gordon], and hopefully we’ll just improve on that.
“I started off at Palace, growing up through the Academy and making my debut. I made moves elsewhere and then came back, and now I’m enjoying my time here and looking to keep playing and keep improving.
“Obviously I enjoy playing at Selhurst Park – it gives me great joy playing there, the fans hav
e always been amazing.”
Clyne also looked ahead to Sunday’s match against the UEFA Europa League winne
rs, and reigning champions, at Detroit’s Comerica Park on Sunday night (kick-off 19:00 EDT local time/Mon 00:00 BST local time). Tickets for the fixture are still available, while the match will also be shown across the world on Palace TV+.
“We’re looking forward to it,” Clyne confirmed. “We’ve been training hard the past couple of days since we’ve got here.
“It will be another tough test. Obviously Sevilla’s are a big tough opponent who have done well in European football, so it will be a difficult game, but we’re ready.
“We’ve been preparing well with the lads and the staff, and we’re looking forward to it. Hopefully we can do better than we did in the last game and finish this tour with a win – that’s the aim.”
