January 22 2001

Alan Smith

Alan Smith has taken his side to a five-star hotel to prepare for the important second leg of the semi-final of the Worthington Cup against Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday.

While the Liverpool stars are training in the cold, the Palace players are lapping up the high life in five-star luxury.

Smith believed that his sides needs a bit of rest after playing 11 games in 40 days and has planned a couple of days of massages, manicures, spa baths and saunas to revive his tired team.

The Palace gaffer said: "We are staying in a nice hotel, a country club. I have got a beautician coming in who will manicure their nails and there's a golf course so I except some of the lads will have a round.

"But come Wednesday they will be nice and relaxed. It has been a real difficult six months for me. It has been a hard slog behind the scenes because we're so much behind everyone else.

"I know I have said this and said that but, after the match against Liverpool I want to go back have a few beers with the players and look forward to what we can achieve over the next 12 months."