‘This makes me proud’ – Oliver Glasner wants Crystal Palace to take risks in the final third
BY ANDREW MCSTEEN
After just nine games in charge, Oliver Glasner has led his Crystal Palace side to mathematical safety from Premier League relegation and three wins on the bounce, beating Liverpool, West Ham and Newcastle en route to safety.
The 5-2 demolition of the east London side in South London marked, perhaps, a sign of what is to come once the Austrian has a full pre-season and, if, he can hold on to key players like Michael Olise and Ebere Eze – both linked to moves this coming summer.
Speaking and listening to the players and manager in recent weeks it is clear that excitement is building about what lies ahead, but, more immediately, the messaging coming from the Beckenham training ground grass is one of teamwork.
While Eze and Olise will rightly get the headlines for their spectacular tricks, skills, assists and goals, nothing makes Glasner happier than seeing team goals, whether it was a 20+ passing move against Liverpool which saw Eze slot home first time for a 1-0 win, or seven players involved in the opener against West Ham at the weekend, which included two central defenders in the six-yard box.
“When we talk about the first goal, it was a corner, they cleared, we recovered the ball, and then we are again with Ebs on the corner, who then passes back to Adam Wharton. We showed the players (in video analysis) that the easiest pass he (Wharton) could do is pass back to Tyrick Mitchell because he was the last man and free, but we went into the box, we wanted to score a goal. Then it was passing, passing, passing, passing, delivery and a header by Michael (Olise),” explained Glasner.
“It is not always playing the safe pass. Taking risks, especially in the final third, going for a goal is the message. When we are the final third [it cannot] be too easy to go there because the other team are really defending well, but when we are there, go for a goal.
“This makes me proud that we maybe can have an influence on the way they are playing because this is the quick passes, the quality, but also, take the risk.”
Since Glasner was announced as the new boss at SE25, he has overseen four wins, three losses and two draws, with his side going ahead in seven of the eight games played so far.
But off the pitch, he has found his way quickly after moving to an apartment from a hotel early on and is enjoying his new role and environs.
“Everybody has made it so easy for me, and also, I speak for us (coaching team) to settle here in south London,” he added.
“Everybody supports us. It’s all just the same; I don’t care if it’s the kit manager or the chairman, we are all human, you have an appreciation for everybody and we can feel it.
“Nobody has to stand in front of me and say ‘Oh, the manager, the gaffer’ is here. It’s a very familiar club. Everybody makes it easy for me, for us, to feel well here. I’m really enjoying the step to the Premier League and especially to Crystal Palace.”
