Crystal Palace midfielder Yohan Cabaye says he believes that clubs around Europe have really 'fantasticsquads', and are being taken for granted less and less.
A Ligue 1 winner three times, with Lille and Paris Saint-Germain, Cabaye knows exactly what it takes to win titles at the top level. He also knows how important it is to not take smaller teams lightly, as many found out with Leicester City in the Premier Leaguelast season.
Speaking exclusively withThe Set Pieces, he said:Before, the big teams could play not at 100%, they could think they could go easier, more relaxed and still win.
"But you can't do that now. If you do that, you're dead. Now, the big teams are ready to rumble against the smaller teams “ that's the main difference for me.
Every team now has a fantastic squad. They can buy big players in every league. Every team improved themselves, now it's more difficult than last season to win games."
Palace boss Alan Pardew did his bit over the summer, bringing Christian Benteke in from Liverpool for £32m. The club have struggled quite a bit, however, and are in 16th place on the league table and quite close to the drop zone on points.
We spent a lot of money, a few teams also spent a lot of money. The levels are closer. The big six teams are up there, but the gap has reduced a little bit. We're not far away from them and their quality. In one single game, we can of course win.
"You have to mix it up, and work every day to get that mentality and learn how to play," he added.
The quality we have, we can target the top ten.�
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