CRYSTAL Palace captain Marc Guehi has outlined the Eagles’ lofty ambitions this season – win another trophy and finish higher in the Premier League.
Palace had the best season in their history in 2024-25 as Guehi lifted the FA Cup and Community Shield at Wembley, the club’s first major senior honours. They finished twelfth in the league.
Guehi, 25, won’t be with the Eagles next season as he has decided not to sign a new deal. He can agree a contract with an overseas club in January or wait until next summer to consider all of his options. Liverpool have continued to be linked with him after being close to a £35million move in the last window.
But Guehi says it his “obsession” to improve as a player and as a team.
Palace won 2-0 against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux last weekend. Daniel Munoz made the breakthrough in the 63rd minute before Yeremy Pino added the second six minutes later in Rob Edwards’ first game in charge of the basement side.
“I think especially after last season, the goal hopefully is to win another trophy, and try and surpass what we did last season in terms of where we finish in the table, but like I said, it’s still very early,” Guehi said.
“We know that these games are going to define a lot of the season, so I think it’s just to maintain that focus, and again take every game step by step.
“You kind of take each game as it comes, and you want to do well, and it’s always important to focus on the next game, and that next game is Strasbourg, and making sure that we’re focused and give ourselves the best opportunity to qualify.
“But at the same time, yeah, we do have a goal. If we have the chance to keep pushing and maybe win a trophy, or just to try and finish as high as possible, especially higher than last season, then that’s the goal. There’s a genuine belief, I think, from the fans, from everyone at the club, that we can do really well in games.
“It’s all about staying humble, staying grounded, and focusing on the next task at hand.”
“Every day is a day where I need to get better, I have to get better.
“My obsession is to get better, and my obsession is this team, and I’m doing the best that I can for my team, my team-mates.
“Every day, all of us come into training with a smile on our faces, wanting to do well, but I say for myself, I’m incredibly grateful to be playing football.
“Even when you miss one game, like I did last week, it hurts, so to be out there again with the team is fantastic, but I’m still a long, long way away from where I want to be, and each and every day, I’m glad that I get pushed by my team-mates to try and do the best that I can.”
Eagles boss Oliver Glasner revealed a video shown to the players at the break was the basis for the first goal.
Glasner said: “In the first half, we felt we were quite often in dangerous areas, but we didn’t find the free player or we didn’t move really well. Credit to my staff for the adjustment in the set-plays, because they defended completely differently to how we expected them to. The new manager changed the set-up and then we adjusted it at half-time, showed one clip and the players executed it really well.
“Then we had the lead, and of course an amazing goal from Yeremy. Then we really controlled the game and did well.
“For the first goal, we expected them to defend the cut-back with two players, because this is what they have always done, [but] they had just one. My staff showed the players and said, ‘okay, let’s play the option, let’s find the free player on the edge of the box in Adam [Wharton].’ Of course, then it’s just Dani’s instinct to be there and an amazing finish.”
Glasner was pleased with how the players returned after the international break.
“Honestly, it doesn’t surprise me now,” Glasner said. “I know the players, I know this group, and I know all of us, so we are ambitious. We’re always looking to the next game and encouraging each other to be energised.
“Usually when we play at three, we have a walk in the morning. Today it was raining heavily and we changed the schedule and said, ‘okay, let’s activate indoors’ and we always play head tennis. There was such a great mood and the players had fun and enjoyed it.
“I really thought about cancelling our meeting, because I just then said to them, ‘boys, play with this joy, with this fun, with this excitement you showed here’. I think this is who we are. It doesn’t mean everything is perfect, but we see always the work for each other, the playing together.
“I really was pleased in many moments, how we moved the ball and how quickly. The players really translated it in an excellent way to the pitch and that’s the most important thing.”
Palace are away to Strasbourg – who are managed by former Fulham and Brighton defender Liam Rosenior – in the Uefa Conference League on Thursday (November 27) before hosting Manchester United in the league on Sunday at 2pm.
