Eberechi Eze, the creative second-year midfielder for Crystal Palace, bamboozled defenders in last week’s Premier League roast of Chelsea. Now, he’s projected to make his debut in Friday’s friendly against Fredrikstad. Despite a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge, Eze’s performance sparked interest due to a goal being ruled out after a VAR check. Those words from manager Oliver Glasner were telling, as he had Eze training with no established starting players leading up to the Chelsea clash. His impressive play removed any doubt about leaving him out of the starting line-up.
Glasner emphasized Eze’s importance to the team, stating, “He was picked because he’s a Crystal Palace player and he’s a very good Crystal Palace player. He trained the whole week, so there was no reason not to pick him.” The manager confirmed that Eze will come back in to continue his recovery on Monday. He’s looking forward to Thursday’s UEFA Conference League second qualifying round tie at Fredrikstad.
Palace’s call to bring Eze was made at a time when there had been widespread speculation about his future with the club. As the summer window approaches, rumors are swirling about Tottenham Hotspur’s interest. This speculation has left everyone wondering if he’ll suit up in the big clash against Chelsea. Glasner shot down these rumors, challenging fans and media to consider the lack of verifiable evidence behind them.
The first lesson, Glasner said, is “Never trust everything that you read, particularly when it’s on the internet.” He expressed confidence in Eze’s commitment and performance, noting, “I watch the players every single day in the training sessions. If most of the things that are written about them are true, they couldn’t perform like this, the team couldn’t be together like this, the team couldn’t be committed to each other like they are. It’s just not possible.
Adding to the intrigue, the reported £68 million release clause which was said to be keeping Eze bound to the club is now confirmedly expired. With this unexpected development, it makes any possible transfer before the window closes at the end of the month highly questionable. Glasner did a wonderful job of admitting this reality while keeping the mood from getting too tense. “I’m quite calm, but I know we have two weeks to go, and I know Ebs’ clause is gone, so it’s the club’s decision, and we will see what happens,” he commented.
It’s easy to see why Eberechi Eze has become such a key cog for Crystal Palace over the last season and a half. That was their highest performance ever. His contributions off-the-field have more than solidified his role on the field as one of the most crucial players on the squad. As Eze gears up for the important match against Fredrikstad, Glasner’s confidence in his talents is crystal clear.
Fredrikstad come second place in the Norwegian third tier, Crystal Palace host them on Thursday for the first leg of their UEFA Conference League qualifying play-off. Impatient fans have been clamoring for Eze’s return. They are very much looking forward to seeing him back on the pitch, where he will be forging the future of their midfield!
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