‘Dream come true’ – Crystal Palace defender asked about European qualification potential under Oliver Glasner

BY ANDREW MCSTEEN

Tyrick Mitchell says it would be a dream come true to qualify for European football with Crystal Palace.

The Eagles demolished Manchester United 4-0 at Selhurst Park on Monday night.

The win was their fourth in five games, thanks to two goals from Michael Olise, one from Jean-Philippe Mateta and his own strike – his second of the season.

But the 24-year-old was keen to stress that his team can go up another gear.

“I feel like we’ve played better games, there were certain points where we could have done better in the game, so there’s always improvement [to be made],” said Mitchell about the performance. “We defended our box and we scored in theirs, so it was definitely efficient.

“We saw that they had a lot of injuries and this might not be their strongest back four if everyone was fit, so we knew that if we get chances, we can take advantage so that’s what we tried to do.

“It was a positive performance and I’m just happy to help the team get a clean sheet and score a goal. The Prem’s a hard league, so if you can get a goal, or assist, or a clean sheet it’s always a buzz. As a defender, that’s what you play the games for, a clean sheet. When you get a clean sheet, that’s one step closer to a win, so it’s always good. It’s always good to play against a top side and beat them 4-0.”

Both Ebere Eze and Michael Olise in their attacking roles caused the United defence problems all night, with Olise winning the Premier League’s Man of the Match award.

The former Reading player has now scored nine times in the Premier League this season in just 17 appearances after returning from a lengthy lay-off in November and is lighting up the league at present.

“He’s a quality player you can see he’s a talent; he’s a gifted footballer,” said Mitchell about the 22-year-old Olise. “We know that from training, we know that from last season from when he first came in, so I’m just happy for him that it’s all shown on the pitch and it’s coming into goals and assists. He’s affecting every game.

“You can see that every game they’re a threat,” he added about Olise, Eze and Mateta in attack. “Every game they’re getting a goal or an assist, they’re just a joy to be playing with.”

With his two strikes this season, Mitchell has scored the most in a campaign in his career, and if he should play in the final two league fixtures of the season, will end on 37 Premier League appearances – again, a career-high.

So, in that form, would he accept a place back training with England under manager Gareth Southgate, who was at Selhurst Park on Monday watching the game?

“To be fair, my main focus is just putting in performances for Crystal Palace and trying to finish off the season as strong as possible,” said Mitchell, who made his England debut in March 2022.

“We’ve got two games, so I’m just trying to perform and hopefully get more clean sheets, more goals and more assists in the last two games.”

Under manager Oliver Glasner, Mitchell has played in an advanced, role on the left side of a five-man attacking defence, with Daniel Munoz on the opposite side of the pitch and has already developed an understanding with his fellow wing-back.

“The manager, the coaching staff; they all speak to both of us about what they expect, where they want us on the pitch so we kind of have an idea, we both kind of know already,” said Mitchell. “I wouldn’t say I really speak to him (Munoz) about that as much, it’s not really about speaking because I feel like we already know what we what he (Glasner) wants from us and what we need to do.

“He showed us a clear plan, a clear vision on what he wants from us. We’re just doing it on the pitch and thankfully it’s working,” added Mitchell about what has changed under Glasner since the Austrian took over from Roy Hodgson in February.

“In training, we’re doing a lot of work. It’s shown on the pitch that we’re able to maintain a good fitness level throughout the whole game. Training is definitely transforming onto the pitch. It’s very intense and that’s how you want to training to be so the matches are easier.”

With a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday followed by an end-of-season clash at home against Aston Villa a week Sunday (May 19), the season end is becoming close.

And while Mitchell is not getting too carried away, he is thinking about what could be possible on current form.

“Hopefully, that will be a dream come true,” said the former Brentford academy player when asked if Europe could be a possibility next season. “[We just want to] win as many games [as possible].”