OLIVER Glasner hailed the outstanding character of his Crystal Palace players after they defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-2 at Selhurst Park on Tuesday – 72 hours after their historic FA Cup triumph against Manchester City at Wembley.
Palace set a new club record of 52 points in the Premier League after a brace from Eddie Nketiah and goals from Ben Chilwell and Eberechi Eze, despite a party over the weekend and no training.
Eze, who scored the only goal against City to clinch the club’s first major trophy, added the Eagles’ fourth four minutes from time against Wolves to ensure victory after the hosts had come from 1-0 down in the first half.
Glasner admitted he wasn’t sure how his players would fare after such a momentous three days in the club’s history.
“Honestly, I didn’t know what we would see today, what we would get, because we had a big party after the final, and no training, so it shows just again the character of the group, playing this game, having this energy from the beginning,” Glasner said.
“I could feel it again before the game in the dressing room, it was very emphasised and loud, players pushed each other from the first minute, and even then we missed one or two chances, then we conceded a set-play goal, and the reaction was great again.
“So all the credit to them, because I know from my personal experience as a player and as a manager, it’s not easy to be focused and perform on a level like they did today, with all the effort, with all the togetherness again, and scoring such amazing goals, so really very proud of the performance, and especially of the energy and spirit the players showed.”
Glasner made six changes to his side, including handing a start to Joel Ward, the 35-year-old defender’s last game for the Eagles after thirteen years and 364 appearances.
“I could tell you so many positive things about Joel,” Glasner said. “And he showed it again, he’s still competitive, he had a very good game.
“He struggled a little bit with his injuries [this season], and all our defenders did so well, that’s why he didn’t get the minutes, and especially in the defence when the players do so well, you don’t want to make many changes.
“But he was always working in training, he pushed all the others, he was always a guy I could talk to and ask about things, what’s going on in the team, and I always got an honest response, and he’s a fantastic player with a massive career, and a massive career for Crystal Palace, but he’s even a much better guy, because he’s great as a human being, as a man, and this is what I really appreciate.”
Former Millwall attacking midfielder Romain Esse assisted Nketiah’s first goal on his first Premier League start.
Glasner said: “We trust every single player, but it’s always then, be ready when the team needs you.”
