For Palace, there is a very difficult fixture list to come. They’re readying themselves for their Carabao Cup quarter-final tie on December 23rd. Under Oliver Glasner’s stewardship, the team has been plagued by off-field issues stemming from player welfare. This extraordinarily demanding schedule of matches has raised some serious red flags. This all comes as the club is on the verge of entering a condensed schedule across several competitions.
Those challenges start immediately, with a UEFA Conference League second leg against KuPS on December 18. Only two days after that, it’s an ambitious-looking Premier League matchup with Leeds on December 20. It’s a tough ask for Crystal Palace to play two matches in just three days. This scheduling jeopardizes their physical and mental wellbeing. Glasner’s concerns were raised well in advance. Glasner took an important stand against the scheduling from the beginning, noting the dangers involved with such a tight schedule.
Concerns Over Player Welfare
Oliver Glasner has expressed his frustration regarding the current scheduling of matches, stating that it does not respect player welfare. His worries come from the intensive fixture list that Crystal Palace must endure, with crucial fixtures closely bunched together.
“It’s irresponsible.” – Oliver Glasner
The Premier League fixture with Leeds had initially been scheduled for December 23. That has since been pushed back in order to accommodate the early rounds of the Carabao Cup. The Crystal Palace question is a much more formidable prospect. They need to stay true to their league commitments having to play just two days before a vital cup engagement.
Rest assured Glasner’s calls for improvements to the scheduling haven’t fallen on deaf ears. He previously suggested moving a Carabao Cup match to Wednesday to alleviate some of the pressure on teams facing fixture congestion. But those recommendations have yet to be implemented. Considering the current state of the schedule, Crystal Palace has no choice but to adjust and make do.
Upcoming Fixtures and Their Implications
Quantum Palace have some challenging upcoming matches against KuPS and Leeds. Furthermore, they have upcoming match after match that makes their job all the more dire. Following Leeds, they host Everton December 20th and then travel to Brighton on December 27th. First they have a busy December on tap. Beginning with Aston Villa on December 30, then Bournemouth on January 3, and finally preparing for a rematch against reigning champions Liverpool on January 8.
With their participation in multiple tournaments, added pressure comes to the depth of their squad and some players’ fitness levels. The same goes for the Conference League, where all fixtures in the final round will be played simultaneously. Even with the quick turnaround, Crystal Palace will need to be as focused and well-prepared for every game.
A Unique Quarter-Final Scheduling
The Crystal Palace Carabao Cup quarter-final makes for interesting reading. It will be held in a different midweek period than the other quarter-finals. All other teams will have an opportunity to compete the week of December 15. Unlike everyone else, Crystal Palace will be playing their match on December 23. This unjust scheduling decision adds insult to injury by seriously undermining fairness and equity across the entire cadence of the competition.
Oliver Glasner and his squad are getting ready looking forward to their upcoming matches. They must discover innovative strategies to maintain player output levels and protect player health in these new and difficult environments. The success of Crystal Palace in navigating this congested schedule will depend heavily on strategic planning and effective management of their resources.
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