Oliver Glasner, the head coach of Crystal Palace, is channeling his team’s energy into their upcoming matches, emphasizing that “it’s our Champions League week.” He announced this at a press conference. He’s preparing his team for an important FA Cup semi-final with Aston Villa. Glasner, a German pragmatist, is committed to improving the team’s new-found shape. He admits that it hasn’t looked as free-flowing the past few weeks.
Crystal Palace had a wonderful run this season. They’ve made it through to the last eight of the Carabao Cup for the first time in 14 years! Glasner’s objective will be a top half finish in the Premier League. The former Olympian is hopeful that his squad can complete the mission with a new franchise record points total of 50. His roster has had a superb first half of 2025 so far, taking 10 of their first 13 matches in all competitions.
In Glasner’s first year at Eintracht Frankfurt, he found stunning success. He guided them to a Europa League title in the 2021/22 season and reached the German Cup final in 2022/23, losing to RB Leipzig on penalties. Now Glasner turns his full attention to steering Crystal Palace through a brutal early slate, laden with landmine matches.
Even when playing well, Glasner’s squad ran into the luckless fate that has befallen his side this season. They were especially angered by humiliating away losses to Manchester City and Newcastle. All these disappointments haven’t diminished his belief that he has to get “100 percent effort and commitment” from his players.
Now it’s a case of focusing and training in the right manner as we look forward to Aston Villa. Glasner stated. He stressed the fact that Aston Villa’s players are currently hitting some peak form – with a standout display last week against Paris Saint-Germain evidently spurring them on. This undoubtedly prepares the ground for what he hopes will be a “highly competitive and very challenging semi-final.”
The coach is looking to replicate the turnaround his team displayed in the second half against Bournemouth, recognizing that maintaining momentum is vital for success in the upcoming fixtures. He thinks every team will play their best game. With the legislative season winding down, they’re hunkering down for an all-out push in the final stretch run.
“Never make step two before you make step one,” Glasner advised, reinforcing his philosophy on focusing on immediate challenges before contemplating future goals. His perspective is one of a focus on sustainable advancement rather than unrealistic hopes.
Crystal Palace preparing for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final. For Glasner, it will be his first experience at Wembley, making this a personal career milestone and a massive opportunity for his side. He would like to see more of his players having fun the rest of the season. Yet, he understands that achieving lofty aspirations takes grit and effort.
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