How Oliver Glasner has brought excitement and optimism back to Crystal Palace | OneFootball

Oliver Glasner has only been manager of Crystal Palace for 13 games but he has already created quite a buzz throughout the football club.

Before Glasner joined in late February, Palace were sitting in a precarious 15th position in the Premier League, with only one win in 2024 and just five points above the relegation zone.

But under Glasner, the Eagles have won five of their last six matches and finished the season with a top –ten finish along with a joint club-record Premier League points tally of 49. What also must not go unnoticed is the 29 goals Palace have scored since Glasner’s arrival, which contributed to their highest scoring Premier League campaign ever with 57 goals.

So how has he achieved such a dramatic transformation of a squad who were on the brink of a relegation battle?

Glasner did not have the desired new manager bounce immediately after taking over, gaining only two points out of a possible nine in his first three games. But as the games went by, fans could clearly see a change within the Palace squad.

He immediately adopted a 3-4-2-1 formation, his preferred style of play. It provides Palace with stability defensively, control in midfield and width in attack, creating both a high press and fluidity in attacking play, and is well suited to his playing squad.

The squad’s fitness looks to have drastically improved, as does their confidence and belief. Perhaps none more so than for striker Jean-Phillipe Mateta, who has scored 13 goals in 13 games under Glasner including a hat-trick on the final day against Aston Villa, having scored just five times in 35 games under previous manager Roy Hodgson.

His change of role to becoming more of a penalty box striker who is less involved in the build-up play has worked wonders for the Frenchman. The freedom he has provided to Ebere Eze and Michael Olise has also helped them to become two of the Premier League’s most dangerous attacking threats.

Gareth Southgate released the provisional Euro 2024 squad on Tuesday, naming four Crystal Palace players, with no club having more included. Dean Henderson, Eberechi Eze, Adam Wharton and Marc Guehi all made the squad ahead of players like Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson, who have long been England regulars.

The last time four Crystal Palace players were named in an England squad was in 1991. Credit must go to Glasner for another achievement in his short reign at Palace.

Glasner has been a breath of fresh air at Crystal Palace and has already instilled his philosophy on the team. Most importantly, he has created excitement and anticipation among a fanbase which had been lacking both, and offered a glimmer of hope that Palace can challenge for a European place next season.

It seems he might even convince players like Michael Olise and Eberezchi Eze, who have impressed massively this season and will attract interest from other clubs, to stay at Crystal Palace and continue their journey, which will be crucial if Glasner is to keep Palace on their current upwards trajectory.