All eyes will be on Oliver Glasner when Crystal Palace welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to Selhurst Park on Sunday (February 22nd). The Austrian is under pressure amid his side’s poor run of form.
Just one win in 15 games across competitions has cast doubts over Glasner staying in charge until the end of the season. Fans made their feelings clear in a 1-1 Europa Conference League play-off first-leg draw against Bosnian minnows Zrinjski Mostar midweek.
Chants of ‘we want Glasner out’ and ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ were heard throughout the dismal draw in Bosnia. The Eagles boss responded to supporters calling for his sacking in arguably the worst way possible.
Glasner told fans to ‘stay humble’ and ‘remember where they came from. His comments were met with heavy backlash, not just from the Selhurst faithful but even from club legend Clinton Morrison.
Crystal Palace team news
Problems are growing at Palace, and that’s not just between Glasner and the fans. His side are suffering somewhat of an injury crisis and lost Maxence Lacroix to a groin injury midweek in Bosnia.
Lacroix was forced off at half-time against Zrinjski after complaining of an adductor problem. The French defender lasted until the 64th minute, and Glasner admitted it “doesn’t look good” ahead of the Wolves game.
Jefferson Lerma is on the sidelines after sustaining a thigh injury in a 3-2 loss to Burnley last weekend. The Colombian midfielder is expected to miss around three weeks.
Cheick Doucoure has been out of action for the entire season with a knee injury. Eddie Nketiah will also be absent for Sunday’s game due to a thigh problem.
Glasner welcomed Jean-Philippe Mateta back to Palace after he failed a medical ahead of a proposed move to AC Milan last month. There were fears he required surgery on his knee but this was downplayed by his manager.
Expected XI
Palace will be eager to get back to winning ways in the Premier League following the defeat to Burnley. They had beaten Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 the weekend prior, their first win since early December.
Glasner has kept his job despite Fabrizio Romano reporting that discussions were held on Friday over a possible dismissal. He will need his team to bounce back and show they are still playing for their manager.
Dean Henderson will continue in goal. Chris Richards and Chadi Riad will likely be joined in a back three by 19-year-old Jaydee Canvot. The French youngster has made nine league appearances and came off the bench for Lacroix midweek.
Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell can be expected to continue in defence. Adam Wharton needs to put the Zrinjski draw behind him after his slip-up allowed the Bosnians to counter and score their equaliser.
Wharton will be joined in midfield by Daichi Kamada, who is set to follow Glasner out of the door this summer. The Japanese star will be tasked with dealing with Joao Gomes, who will try to control the game for the visitors.
Ismaila Sarr scored a tidy opener in the Conference League playoff and has remained the brightest spark in a disappointing Palace team. He’ll likely be joined in attack by Yeremy Pino and Jorgen Strand Larsen.
It will be a reunion for Strand Larsen, who will face his former club. The Norweigan scored his first two goals for the Eagles in the Burnley loss and will be eager to prove his worth following his club-record £48m move.
Crystal Palace predicted XI: Henderson; Richards, Canvot, Riad; Muñoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Pino; Strand Larsen
Prediction
There is an eerie feeling to this game amid the undeniable tension between Glasner and Palace fans. The Austrian tactician can expect a frosty reception when he heads out of the Selhurst Park tunnel.
Wolves put in their best performance of the season to earn a 2-2 draw against leaders Arsenal on Wednesday. Rob Edwards men will be arriving in South London in a positive mood, a stark contrast to the atmosphere around Palace.
The players are surely becoming frustrated with the drama occurring between their manager and supporters; they will hopefully take it out on the visitors. But if the Austrian has lost the dressing room, it could be the final nail in the coffin should his side suffer defeat, which would be unforgivable.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Wolves
