Ahead of Crystal Palace Under-18s’ Premier League South meeting with Birmingham City, midfielder Chuks Okoli reflected on the young Eagles’ emphatic response to adversity, the importance of consistency in league football, and the challenge that awaits this weekend.
The match will be streamed live on Palace TV+ on Saturday morning (31st January, 11:00 GMT) – click HERE to learn more about Palace TV+ and subscribe today!
Can’t watch live? Follow live commentary on our Academy X (Twitter) page, with a full match report and reaction available shortly after full-time in our Academy news section.
Highlights will also be available on Palace TV+.
To go all the way up to Newcastle and beat them 4-0 was massive
—Chuks Okoli
Palace’s 4-0 FA Youth Cup Fourth Round victory over Newcastle United served as the perfect reaction to a frustrating 3-0 league defeat to West Brom, and Okoli was quick to highlight the significance of that response.
“That was a really positive performance and it was great for us as a team,” he said. “Obviously, the game before that against West Brom wasn’t our best performance, so we needed something to bounce back from.
“To go all the way up to Newcastle and beat them 4-0 was massive. It was great for our motivation and team morale, and hopefully we can build on that and carry it forward.”
Okoli underlined just how important it was for the group to respond in the manner they did, particularly given Palace’s strong position prior to the defeat.
“I think it was really important,” Okoli explained. “We were top of the league before that game, we’d done well in the Youth Cup, and we’d topped our group in the Premier League Cup as well.
“So to lose against West Brom felt like a dampener on the statement we’d been making. To then go and deal with Newcastle away from home, in front of their supporters, was a really good way to set a standard for ourselves for the rest of the season.”
We’re still young – 16 to 18 years old – and sometimes complacency can creep in
—Chuks Okoli
Okoli also offered an insight into why performances can sometimes fluctuate from such a talented U18s group.
“A lot of it comes down to age,” he said. “We’re still young – 16 to 18 years old – and sometimes complacency can creep in.
“You look at results like the win against Bradford, beating Chelsea, drawing with City – you’re flying – and then sometimes in a regular league game, the mentality can dip slightly. That’s not how we want to perform, and it’s not a lack of effort, it’s just a blip in focus.”
Consistency, he believes, is the key to sustained success.
“To win a league, you’ve got to be fully prepared every single week,” he added. “It’s about keeping that motivation, that desire, and that mentality to win every game.”
Turning attention to Saturday’s opponents, Okoli is expecting a very different test to the opening-day fixture, when Palace ran out 8-0 winners.
“I expect them to want some sort of retribution for what happened last time,” he said. “I’m expecting a lot of fight, energy, and character from them.
“It’s their first season back in Category One and their first game was against us, which wasn’t a great start for them. I think they’ll definitely want a better result this time around, so it’ll be a physical battle all over the pitch.”
The league is more of a mental challenge than a physical one
—Chuks Okoli
Palace’s cup campaigns have been a major positive this season – reaching the U17 Premier League Cup semi-final, progressing from a tough group to set up a U18 Premier League Cup quarter-final with Peterborough United, and advancing to the Fifth Round of the FA Youth Cup.
However, Okoli acknowledged that league football presents a different kind of challenge.
“The league can become comfortable sometimes,” he admitted. “Cup games are hyped up – the Youth Cup, the 18s Cup – whereas the league can feel a bit stagnant at times.
“But to actually win the league, you have to be on it every week. Games like West Brom are more of a mental blip than anything else.”
“For me, the league is more of a mental challenge than a physical one – staying locked in week in, week out.”
Finally, Okoli spoke about the intensity of preparations as Palace navigate a busy schedule.
“Training’s been intense,” he said. “Numbers have been a bit lower, but everyone’s giving it their all.
“We’re fully focused on Birmingham, then we’ve got Peterborough next Tuesday, and we know there are a lot of games coming up. It’s about staying fit, sharp, and ready for what’s ahead.”
The match will be streamed live on Palace TV+ on Saturday morning (31st January, 11:00 GMT) – click HERE to learn more about Palace TV+ and subscribe today!
Can’t watch live? Follow live commentary on our Academy X (Twitter) page, with a full match report and reaction available shortly after full-time in our Academy news section.
Highlights will also be available on Palace TV+.
Crystal Palace U18s v Birmingham City U18s