As the Premier League season enters its final stretch, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is gearing up for a blockbuster showdown against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night (kick-off 20:00 BST). With just four games left on the calendar, the Eagles have already secured their top-flight status, but Glasner insists there's no room for complacency as his squad looks to "show their best football" against a title-chasing City side.
In a pre-match press conference, Glasner delivered an upbeat injury update, revealing that most of his players are "available and feeling well" with no fresh concerns. However, fans will have to wait a bit longer for the return of Evann Guessand and Borna Sosa, who have resumed first-team training but won't feature against City. "Wednesday night comes too soon for them," Glasner explained. "They need a few minutes to get back into shape. We're working towards their return against Brentford."
With Crystal Palace set to face both Premier League title contenders—Manchester City and Arsenal—in their remaining fixtures, the inevitable question arose: could the Eagles play kingmaker in the title race? Glasner met the suggestion with a dose of humor. "It is in both hands," he joked. "I've had a look at my payslip to see if I've been given some money from Arsenal or Manchester City, but I couldn't find it. I must've said the wrong thing when I said I'm responsible for Crystal Palace—and that was the confirmation." He added with a grin, "Our influence in the title race will be definitely less than VAR."
On a more serious note, Glasner emphasized his team's commitment to continuous improvement. "We're always looking to improve our game and raise our standards," he said, outlining the challenge of facing Pep Guardiola's relentless machine. The focus in training has been sharp and specific: "We've shown the players where we can find our chances to score against Manchester City. We want to be more efficient. We believe we can create chances. But the big challenge is to control their attack."
As the season winds down, Crystal Palace's remaining fixtures—away to Manchester City, away to Brentford, and a home clash with Arsenal—offer a chance to finish strong and leave a lasting impression. For now, all eyes are on Wednesday night's trip to the Etihad, where the Eagles will look to soar against the odds.