Oliver Glasner, the manager of Crystal Palace, has indicated his willingness to manage in Serie A at some point in his career. He emphasized that Crystal Palace will maintain their aggressive attacking approach in the second leg of their Conference League quarter-final against Fiorentina at the Stadio Franchi, mirroring the success of their 3-0 victory in the first leg.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference in Florence, Glasner addressed the perceived disparity between the Premier League and Serie A, especially after English clubs like Crystal Palace and Aston Villa convincingly defeated their Italian counterparts in recent European fixtures. His response was thoughtful and respectful.
“I observed both our match and the Bologna vs. Aston Villa game, and Bologna missed a number of opportunities,” Glasner stated, as reported by TuttoMercatoWeb. “I don’t believe there’s a substantial difference between the two leagues. The styles of play might vary, but I wouldn’t characterize it as anything more than that.”
Crystal Palace Boss Glasner ‘Open’ to Serie A Move
Regarding the possibility of working in Italy in the future, Glasner was equally forthcoming. “I follow Serie A closely and I am certainly open to considering the idea of coming to Italy,” he commented. “However, the ambition of the club I join is paramount. Currently, my focus is not on my future.”
Despite holding a comfortable three-goal lead, Glasner confirmed that his team would not adopt a defensive stance at the Franchi.
“That mentality is absent here,” he asserted. “Since my arrival in London, our philosophy has consistently been to showcase our quality against any opponent, regardless of whether we are playing at home or away. Our approach tomorrow will be the same; we will not be playing defensively.”
He also confirmed that the number of players on yellow card warnings would not affect his starting lineup decisions from the outset.
The only confirmed player unavailable is Guessand, who is expected to be out for the next two weeks. However, Glasner highlighted Palace’s ability to perform effectively without him, citing the victory against Newcastle as evidence of their depth.
Jean-Philippe Mateta is set to return after recovering from an injury, although Glasner acknowledged that the striker is not yet at peak fitness. “I hope he can represent France well in the World Cup,” the coach added, subtly suggesting that Mateta’s long-term future at the club beyond the current season might be uncertain.
Glasner also conveyed his anticipation of the atmosphere at the Franchi, while expressing his disappointment at the partial closure of the stadium during the Lazio match. “I am confident that the fans will generate a fantastic atmosphere,” he said. “And I anticipate a more aggressive performance from Fiorentina tomorrow.”