Palace boss De Boer: Premier League is best in the world

The Premier League may not have produced a Champions League winner in five years but new Crystal Palace boss Frank de Boer is adamant it is still the best league in the world.

The Dutchman is preparing for his first game in charge after replacing Sam Allardyce in south London, after six fruitful years at Ajax.

Palace start against new-boys Huddersfield Town, but De Boer is more excited about pitting his wits against the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Arsene Wenger.

Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images

Palace may seem like a step down from Ajax, especially as he was linked with the Tottenham Hotspur job two years ago, but De Boer is adamant it is a major role.

“With the coaches here, you want to be here, and that’s why I’m very proud,” he said.

“A friend of mine congratulated me, saying ‘you can be very proud, you’re one of the 20 managers of the Premier League, the best league in the world, the most watched of the world’.”

“Spain is a fantastic league, no doubt, but it’s always Barcelona and (Real) Madrid and Atletico lately. Here, everyone says every team can win.

“Mostly the top six are always there but they had to fight for every point. The depth is much better in the Premier League.

“And also the atmosphere. It’s like what they did with the NBA. They sold the product so well. Everyone’s happy to watch the Premier League.”