18 May 2024 , 21:30
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Don’t be surprised if Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish turns his mobile phone off the moment the season ends against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Because Selhurst Park has suddenly become everybody’s favourite hunting ground after a massive turnaround in the club’s Premier League standing.
Wanted: Manager Oliver Glasner. Wanted: Sporting Director Dougie Freedman: Wanted: Michael Olise. Wanted: Eberechi Eze. Wanted: Jean-Philippe Mateta. Wanted: Mark Guehi. Wanted: Adam Wharton. Wanted: Joachim Andersen. The dilemma for Parish is whether to cash in or hold his nerve and allow Glasner who replaced former England boss Roy Hodgson in February to propel the Eagles towards a place in Europe.
At least his Austria born manager is going nowhere despite an approach from German giants Bayern Munich complete with a generous compensation package for Palace.
“It’s a brilliant time now at Crystal Palace and everybody is enjoying it,” Glasner enthused. “At the beginning it was very hard work but the players are very ambitious and very hard working and then you get the rewards.
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“You can always improve. We will come together again in July looking to build this spirit, this personality again. Some players will have gone to the Euros, the Copa America, while others will have had an enjoyable vacation.
Oliver Glasner has worked wonders at Palace (CameraSport via Getty Images)“I will be pleased to work with all the players in the squad, not just the front three who get mentioned (Olise, Eze, Mateta). They are fantastic players and fantastic characters. And yes, I hope all the players will still be here.
“I know the club will do everything for these players to be playing for Crystal Palace next season. From the sporting department we have to show we are ambitious and have a pathway to them being successful. The rest we will see.”
Steve Parish may have to hold his nerve this summer (Getty Images)That’s where Parish comes in, having already this season been faced with banners in the crowd accusing the board of taking the club backwards and displaying a lack of ambition.
Selling off the club silver in the shape of rising stars like Olise and Eze would again place Parish and his fellow directors under renewed pressure after enjoying a respite with Glasner, a shrewd appointment, guiding the club to five wins in an impressive six game unbeaten Premier League run which has included wins over Liverpool and Manchester United.
With everyone still on board and that includes Freedman, a target for Newcastle United, fighting for a European qualifying place next season wouldn’t be a surprise the way Palace are finishing the current campaign.
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