Glasner on Chilwell, Mitchell, França & Hughes roles

First-team

14 Feb 2025

Oliver Glasner discussed a range of Crystal Palace players in the embargoed section of his pre-Everton press conference.

Quizzed on his options for left-wing back – and how he would decide between new arrival Ben Chilwell, who made his Palace debut against Doncaster on Monday, and Tyrick Mitchell, who has started all-but-one game in all competitions this season – the manager explained: “It’s easy – it depends on the performance of the players.

“If a player performs great game by game, then it's a clear situation, and the other one has to show in every single training that he's ready if something happens but wait for their time, wait for the minutes, and then wait for your chance. I never hope that a player is performing terribly so that the other player can play.

“We're in a good situation now with players being in good shape, and it's always better to choose between two players who are in good form, than the opposite.

“It doesn't mean that Dani Muñoz plays every single game, but if he performs well, he scores goals, he assists, he's very consistent and he does his job, which he has to do for the team in a really good way, that's what we expect from every single player.”

The manager was also asked about whether Matheus França, who made his first appearance in a Crystal Palace shirt since March of last year against Doncaster Rovers earlier in the week, would be considered for selection against the Toffees at Selhurst Park.

“We stick to our usual plan now,” Glasner said. “He trained the whole week, very good. I talked to him today – he won't be in the squad tomorrow, preparing for more minutes on Monday evening with our Under-21s [against Aston Villa U21s, a match which will be shown live on Palace TV+].

“We always have a target. Adam [Wharton]’s was 45 minutes at Doncaster, then he played 60 and he wanted to play more. And Matheus’ is quite similar, so I'd say at least 45 when he feels well.

“You don't always know how the game is going. Is it very intense, up and down? Then maybe 45 is enough. When it's not that intense, maybe 60 is possible – so this is the plan.

“He’s a very, very nice guy. He’s had ups and downs and then feeling better and better and thinking now ‘I'm just short before my comeback’ and then having a setback again and then you go down again.

“But I think he had great support here from everyone in the club, and especially from our medical team, because they worked with him very often, hours, hours and hours. And he also tried to stay positive, and also a big credit to him that most of the times it worked.”

One player who has been a regular fixture in the side this season is Will Hughes, the midfielder having won Player of the Match for his performance at Doncaster on Monday night – and having also won much acclaim in recent weeks.

“He’s a great football player,” Glasner smiled. “I think it's nothing to do with me or with us – it's because of the talent he obviously had.

“I was told that when Will was 19, he was one of the best passers in English football. And this is what he shows now. I don't know what happened in between and I don't judge it, but from the first day we could see that he has a very good pre-orientation.

“It's a little bit similar to Adam Wharton. He can solve situations with one touch, and it's not just the short side, like he showed with this pass, then he played over the last line [against Doncaster for Justin Devenny’s goal].

“I also mentioned it sometimes, he's like more the old school. He's talking, he's a leader, and so this is what I really appreciate and he's really doing excellent in the last year.

“It was also [the case] at the end of last season, and then he got injured at Wolves with his knee, so he was out for the last two or three games. But also before, we could see it. He has a good combination of aggression, of working mentality, and passing.

“And it's also good that we have different profiles because some games maybe need the physical part of Jeff Lerma – his heading, his pace – and there are some games where we need maybe a little bit more technical football players like Adam and Will.

“Unfortunately, Cheicky [Doucouré] is injured – who’s different, a very stable holding midfielder. It’s also good we have Daichi [Kamada] and Justin who can play this role, and they are more attacking midfielders, because they also can play the No. 10 position.

“Then we can decide from game to game what's best for this game, who's in the best shape, who showed us during the week that he can help us winning the game.

“That's very positive for me as a manager to choose now between players who are all in good shape with different profiles, and this is credit to [Sporting Director] Dougie [Freedman] for building this group in this way.”

Match Details

Crystal Palace v Everton
Saturday, 15th February, 17:30 GMT
Premier League
Selhurst Park
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+

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