Crystal Palace star Jefferson Lerman has claimed it is “work, discipline, hunger and desire” have ensured he is a first-team regular under “Premier League legend” Roy Hodgson.
The Colombian midfielder has been speaking to Gol Caracol in his homeland about life at Selhurst Park and the Colombian National Team.
He joined Crystal Palace in the summer on a free transfer from Bournemouth after five years with the Cherries following a €30.5m move from Levante in 2018.
He had been a regular for Bournemouth throughout his time at the club and has continued that with Crystal Palace, where he has managed 12 appearances in the Premier League this season and featured in 72% of the available minutes in the league so far.
He’s very much a key player at this moment in time, particularly with Crystal Palace’s thin squad continuing to be decimated by injuries.
That’s seen the club struggling at the wrong end of the table and currently in the bottom three of the form table over the last five games.
Lerma has no intention of changing the ethics that’s got him where he is, though, nor is he wiling to criticise his current boss.
“He is a legend of the Premier League, he knows too much,” he said.
“He can translate his experience and wisdom into each of the members of the team. He has the habit of speaking with the player at all times, giving his motivational talk, that confidence and reminding them to the players who have the ability to succeed.”
“Work, discipline, hunger and desire to always be there,” he added when asked what ‘the secret’ was to establishing himself at his new club.
“Train and give my best in each game; I always want to live up to each commitment. Thank God, that mentality has led me to be in the starting eleven and to be able to enjoy that moment.”
