Glasner: We did well to show resilience
Oliver Glasner hailed Crystal Palace’s willingness to keep going – to keep creating opportunities – in an eventually dominant 3-1 win over AZ Alkmaar at Selhurst Park.
In a similar manner to our opening home league phase fixture against AEK Larnaca a fortnight ago, Palace created plenty of opportunities in front of the Selhurst Park faithful – even having a penalty saved in the first-half – but, unlike against the Cypriot team, managed to eventually force a breakthrough through Maxence Lacroix.
A further brace from Ismaïla Sarr gave Palace the additional breathing space – and three points – their performance ultimately deserved, and Glasner was pleased to see his players remain persistent in their search of goals in South London.
“A great atmosphere and a great European night here at Selhurst Park,” was his assessment, speaking to Palace TV. “It was a very good result, important result against a strong Alkmaar team, to be honest.
“But that’s what we expected. I think two years ago they played in the semi-finals of the Conference League, so they’re a good team, and we could see especially the first 10 to 15 minutes we looked a little bit surprised – we’d talked about it – about their intensity.
“Then after 10 or 15 minutes, we brought the game more into their half, more into the final third. And I think in the first-half, then we dominated with our physicality, with set plays. And even after we missed the penalty, we really stayed focused and strong.
“It looked at the beginning like a typical Conference League game – like last time against Larnaca, missing chances. But today we did really well to show resilience and always keep going. That's what I liked, and that helped us.
“We had, I think, a deserved lead at half-time. We spoke about it – I think we could have done a little bit better with our front three, they pressed us man-to-man, we didn't have really good movements, we lost the balls a little bit too easily.
“In one situation we did it really well, JP [Mateta] protected the ball, and then we know we have the runs and then it was an excellent pass and a great finish of Isma – and then I think we controlled the game.
“A very important three points. Now, having six points looks good – and now it's focus on Brighton [on Sunday].”
A great European night – thanks to the fans for their support
—Oliver Glasner
Glasner was once again full of praise for the noise generated by the assembled Palace crowd, labelling it: “A great European night – thanks to the fans for their support.
“A win is always the best preparation [for facing Brighton on Sunday], having now three in a row. And now, again, it's important to recover.
“We could manage the minutes a little bit in the second-half. We wanted to give Adam [Wharton] 30 minutes after he was ill for almost one week. Daichi [Kamada] stayed in the rhythm, Justin [Devenny] and then also [Christantus] Uche getting a few minutes. And also resting Dani Muñoz for 10-15 minutes.
“Overall, everything worked how we wanted it. But most important, of course, is getting the three points.”
On Palace’s set-piece goals, Glasner also noted this was an area Palace had tactically targeted: “We were often talking about second phases and that the [Palace] players never switch off. Because when it's the first throw-in, the first corner, the first free-kick, usually the opposition is always organised – but then, be sharp on the second phase and this was shown with a great strike from Maxence.”
Glasner also revealed he spoke to Mateta at full-time: “I said, today we scored three so we didn't need his goals. Maybe he saved his goals for Brighton on Sunday!”