Dutch legend: This is not the Edgar Davids show (From Croydon Guardian)

Dutch legend: This is not the Edgar Davids show

4:17pm Thursday 26th August 2010 in

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Edgar Davids says the thrill of playing football was behind his decision to join Crystal Palace.

The 37-year-old Dutch legend lasted more than 80 minutes of his Eagles debut in Tuesday night's Carling Cup clash at Portsmouth.

He said: “It was very exciting to play again at a decent level. It was nice to play with the boys.

“I love to be competitive and if you still have those energy levels and ability to play this kind of football rather than for just an amateur team.”

Davids has been busy developing his various charity projects during his time out of playing football.

While he plans to continue that work in London, training with Ajax rekindled his passion to play again and the prospect of linking up with former Scotland manager George Burley was a major part in him arriving at Selhurst Park.

He added: “I have been busy in my office. But I trained at Ajax which worked because I could work during the day and train at night.

“The main trigger was a chat with George. It really contributed to my decision to come here. I just want to be having fun playing football.

“My hunger for the game is still the same.

“I am still irritated by the same things that I was at the beginning of my career, and those things came back on Tuesday so the hunger is still there.”

There has been a media circus surrounding Davids' move but, now that he is here, Davids hopes to be a role model to Palace's young players.

“Of course I hope I can help them,” he said.

“But I would also like to hope that they look up to my team mates in the same way.

“It is important that it is a team, not an Edgar Davids Crystal Palace team.

“I see a lot of talent here but the important thing is is that talent has to be cultivated.

“The main objective is to get rid of that stamp of being a talent and instead be labelled as a class player. “ Crystal Palace face Scunthorpe on Saturday, a trip which will certainly highlight the less glamourous side of the Championship.

However Davids is unfaxed by the prospect at playing at Glanford Park, rather than the Nou Camp or the San Siro.

“We have got Scunthorpe on Saturday and that will be a tough game,” he added.

“I think it is important to adjust to the English culture and that culture is not only London it's everywhere.

“If I play then I will have to adjust to how the game is, that does not worry me.”