It was February 15, 2024 and there was a sense of disappointment, discontent and chaos at Crystal Palace’s coaching floor.
Roy Hodgson appeared on the point of shedding his job. Outcomes had nosedived and the followers had been livid. Their membership had been missing course on the pitch and seemingly had none off it. Oliver Glasner was being lined as much as cease the season meandering in direction of a relegation scrap.
Considerably surprisingly, Hodgson was nonetheless set to carry a pre-match press convention forward of their subsequent recreation in opposition to fellow strugglers Everton.
But as assembled journalists gathered exterior the membership’s Beckenham coaching base, one thing else was brewing. Stood exterior the gates, information broke that the viewers with Hodgson had been pulled with simply over half an hour’s discover.
The previous England supervisor had been taken in poor health in the course of the morning’s coaching session. He was en path to hospital on a day the place it appeared his second stint on the membership was set to be reduce brief.
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Glasner’s Eintracht Frankfurt facet received the Europa League in 2021/22
Hodgson was quickly in a steady situation in hospital and confirmed he would step down days later. Glasner’s appointment – initially deliberate for the summer season – was confirmed and an ungainly chapter got here to a detailed.
4-hundred and fifty-eight days later, the course is as clear because the taking part in type. The Eagles are off to Wembley and the Austrian is probably 90 minutes away from main them to their first-ever FA Cup.
The journey hasn’t been with out its bumps. It took Palace till late October to safe their first win this season. And it was solely final month that they conceded 10 objectives in two matches because the wheels seemed set to fall off a promising marketing campaign.
However the general line of journey has seen a group progressing with objective.
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Crystal Palace supervisor Oliver Glasner confirms that Adam Wharton solely has a 90 per cent probability of creating the FA Cup closing in opposition to Manchester Metropolis after coming off with a knock throughout their 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest
For therefore lengthy, purely as a soccer group, Palace felt onerous to like from the skin. The soccer was pretty uninspiring, however they at all times did sufficient to maintain themselves away from hassle. That in itself is an achievement to not be sniffed at. However underneath Glasner they’re providing a lot extra.
There may be a lot to love about this present Palace outfit. Dean Henderson’s fist pumps, Daniel Munoz’s blistering runs down the correct, Ebere Eze’s mazy dribbles on the left and Jean-Philippe Mateta smashing nook flags. That is with out mentioning the calmness which exudes from the stylish Marc Guehi, the maturity and composure of Adam Wharton and the unpredictable brilliance of Ismaila Sarr.
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Crystal Palace supervisor Oliver Glasner discusses the “privileged state of affairs” his gamers are in and the way they’ll create recollections at Wembley in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final
These proficient people have been allowed to thrive underneath Glasner. They nonetheless have the prospect to document Palace’s highest-ever Premier League factors tally with two matches left to play.
And whereas heading into this weekend, followers could naturally be scarred and pessimistic from earlier finals (bear in mind the Alan Pardew dance?!), this supervisor will not be. It was solely three years in the past on Sunday that Glasner delivered the Europa League for Eintracht Frankfurt, along with his facet defeating Rangers within the closing.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Manchester Metropolis’s match in opposition to Crystal Palace within the Premier League
Admittedly, there could also be some trepidation taking up Manchester Metropolis simply weeks after a 5-2 hammering on the Etihad. However the Austrian remained defiant even within the minutes that adopted a match during which Palace ought to have taken a 3-0 benefit, however ended up conceding 5 unanswered objectives: “I instructed Pep (Guardiola) after the sport that he cannot play this technique (once more) as a result of we’ll beat it”. A refined reference to the 2 sides probably assembly once more within the closing – earlier than they’d even taken on Champions League quarter-finalists Aston Villa within the semi!
In saying all of this, clearly Palace are nonetheless the underdogs. Man Metropolis have did not hit their typical highs this season, however are nonetheless a power to be reckoned with and their document in home cup competitions underneath Guardiola is phenomenal. They’ve received the FA Cup twice underneath him and have reached at the least the final 4 stage in every of the previous seven seasons. Chuck in 5 Premier League titles, a Champions League and 4 Carabao Cups amongst different items of silverware. It’s some ask for the Eagles.
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Talking on the One on One podcast, Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner revealed his non-negotiables to ensure that his facet to succeed
From a private perspective, it has been a pleasure to talk to Glasner regularly and canopy his 15 months on the membership up to now. He is a pleasant, heat and totally first rate human being. Behind the grins there is a fierce aggressive streak. He is stressed and relentless in his pursuit of progress. He offers quite a bit and calls for quite a bit from gamers, employees and the membership.
It is simple to see why Bayern Munich had been circling once they seemed to exchange Thomas Tuchel final summer season. It is no shock that RB Leipzig have shortlisted him to fill their vacant managerial position.
Which takes me to my closing level.
The potential on this squad and supervisor is sort of limitless. However in actuality, we’re more than likely witnessing the ultimate iteration of this explicit Palace group.
Oliver Glasner
The potential on this squad and supervisor is sort of limitless. However in actuality, we’re more than likely witnessing the ultimate iteration of this explicit Palace group. In all chance, they could lose two or three key gamers this summer season. Perhaps their supervisor too. It is inconceivable that they’ll maintain maintain of all their stars. Someday, possibly they’ll.
Maybe European soccer subsequent season – courtesy of victory on Saturday – would suffice for the likes of Guehi and Eze. Their performances specifically during the last two seasons reveal they belong on the largest of phases.
However that is sooner or later. Let’s stay within the now. Established in 1861, on Saturday, Crystal Palace might expertise their biggest day.
