“We were in two or three situations a little bit lucky” Glasner reveal satisfaction and reveal a lot of improvement will reflect soon despite Palace draw to Chelsea at Bridge.
Crystal Palace have often struggled to earn points against Chelsea, but they managed to secure a well-deserved draw in West London, thanks to a much-improved second-half performance, highlighted by Ebere Eze’s curling goal.
Speaking to Palace TV, manager Oliver Glasner said, “Given the circumstances, this was an absolutely positive point. Coming here after two Premier League defeats, with only 14 players available from our squad due to injuries and new signings who couldn’t play, plus four players from the Under-21s, this result was really satisfying.”
Reflecting on the match, Glasner admitted that Palace were justifiably behind at halftime. “To be honest, being one goal down at halftime was deserved. But after making a few adjustments during the break, the team showed great spirit, belief, and togetherness. I’m really pleased with today’s performance.”
He noted that in the first half, the team struggled to exploit the opportunities they had identified in preparation. “We had the chances mapped out in our preparation, but we didn’t capitalize on them in the first half. We failed to switch the play and find our key players, who were often in good positions but went unnoticed.”
Glasner also praised the team’s wing-backs, Daniel Muñoz and Tyrick Mitchell, for their relentless running, although he felt they weren’t utilized enough before the break. He explained how they adjusted at halftime to avoid playing into Chelsea’s pressure, which had led to the opening goal. “In the first half, we were a bit fortunate in some situations, but we had an outstanding goalkeeper in Dean Henderson, and you need that kind of performance to earn a point here.”
In the second half, Palace tightened up and limited Chelsea’s opportunities. “We were much better organized and denied them space. They tried to break through once or twice, but overall, we did a really great job,” Glasner added.
Commenting on Dean Henderson’s contribution, Glasner said, “After conceding the goal, Henderson showed great resilience. He didn’t take the easy way out and stayed committed to the team. He was fantastic and earned his reward with that big save. We know he’s a top-class goalkeeper, and that’s why he’s been called up to the national team.”
Looking ahead to the international break, Palace finally have their first point of the season, and Glasner discussed the challenges ahead. “It’s a bit tricky because half of the team will be away on international duty. We hope everyone returns in good shape and, more importantly, healthy.”
He mentioned the importance of integrating new players during the break, especially Jean-Philippe Mateta, who needs recovery time after the Olympic final, and Adam Wharton, who has had recent issues that need managing. “Tyrick Mitchell has played every minute so far, so it’s also crucial to manage his workload. We’re doing our best to ensure everyone is ready for our next game after the break.”
