Roy Hodgson has hit back at suggestions that Crystal Palace and Chelsea are one-man teams.
The Eagles host Chelsea on Sunday with Wilfried Zaha and Eden Hazard expected to spearhead the attacks of each side.
Palace’s victory over Leicester earlier this month was the first time the Eagles had won a Premier League match without Ivory Coast forward Zaha in their team for more than two years.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have relied heavily on the attacking threat of Belgium international Hazard, who has 12 goals to his name already this season.
However, Palace boss Hodgson insists there is far more to both teams.
He said: “Any accusation to a manager of a team or a player in the team that you are a one-man team would be very unwillingly accepted.
“Most of us would point out that’s not the case but people still say what they want to say.
“If you’re asking me do I think Chelsea are a one-man team, I don’t. Or if Palace are a one-man team, then I don’t.
“Each team has got good players and good players are the ones that grab the headlines. I’m pretty sure Manchester City would reject suggestions Sergio Aguero makes them a one-man team.
“If you ask do these teams have very good players capable of turning a game and making the game a successful one for them, then I’m pretty sure Maurizio Sarri and myself would be happy to say yes.
“Hazard and Wilf come into that category.
“We have a lot of unsung heroes who do not get the headlines that their performances deserve, but I don’t think I am in an unusual situation with that.
“The articles and TV shows tend to single out the same star quality players, but there are a few players beneath that who deserve a bigger pat on the back than they sometimes get.”
Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and full-back Martin Kelly are back from injury and available to face the Blues.
PA
