Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has openly admitted that his team selection in Europe may have handed Leeds United a significant advantage ahead of their crucial Premier League meeting this weekend.
Revealing the Hand Ahead of Premier League Clash
The Eagles were held to a 2-2 draw by Finnish side KuPS in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night, just two days before they are scheduled to face Leeds at Selhurst Park on Saturday. Faced with a punishing schedule of three games in five days, Glasner took a calculated risk, making eleven changes to his starting line-up and fielding several academy graduates.
While pleased with the performance of his young players, the Austrian coach acknowledged that the wholesale rotation has effectively shown Leeds boss Daniel Farke his probable starting XI for the domestic fixture. "The only thing that I don't like is Leeds now knows our starting line-up already," Glasner stated after the European match.
Praise for Young Stars Amid Fixture Congestion
Glasner highlighted the positive contributions from his youthful side, despite the result not going their way. He pointed to individual performances from teenagers like 17-year-old Dean Benamar and 16-year-old Joel Drakes-Thomas, but noted the physical toll the intense match took on players unaccustomed to the level.
"We could see that they are not used to playing at this level because all four were cramping, starting after 60 minutes," he explained. The manager also reflected on a recurring theme in Palace's European campaign, where missed chances and individual errors have proven costly, as was the case against KuPS.
Calculated Risk with Premier League in Mind
The decision to rotate was a strategic one, prioritising player fitness for the demanding Premier League calendar. Glasner revealed that some senior players had even volunteered to play every minute across the three games, but were told to "calm down".
"Everything else worked how we planned it. We could rest a few players," Glasner said, accepting the risk of a draw in Europe. However, the tactical transparency it created is a clear concession. With his comment, "Daniel Farke will know it now!", Glasner has set the stage for a fascinating managerial duel, where one side feels it has lost the element of surprise.
The draw in Finland nevertheless secures Crystal Palace a playoff spot in the Conference League, with further knockout matches scheduled for February.
