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Guehi’s Late Header Seals Crystal Palace Victory Over Fulham
Positioned fourth in the league, boasting quality across the field, and guided by a top-tier manager – Crystal Palace is experiencing a Premier League season unlike any before.
Marc Guehi’s decisive late header secured a narrow 2-1 away win against Fulham on Sunday, elevating the Eagles into the coveted Champions League spots.
Accumulating 26 points from their initial 15 fixtures marks their highest achievement at this stage of a top-flight campaign, establishing them as serious contenders for a place in Europe’s premier competition next year.
Eddie Nketiah, who initiated the scoring at Craven Cottage on his 50th appearance for the club, suggested that “the sky is the limit” if the team maintains their current impressive form, while manager Oliver Glasner was quick to commend his squad.
“I could highlight numerous players, but it was a monumental team effort – a source of great pride,” he stated.
“That’s the foundation of our current standing.”
However, this acclaim arrives merely a week after Glasner openly critiqued the club for insufficient summer investment following a 2-1 home loss to Manchester United.
With his contract nearing its end this season and uncertainty surrounding the future of key players like Guehi and Adam Wharton, concerns linger behind the scenes at Selhurst Park.
Will Palace’s ownership be successful in retaining the manager responsible for their recent success? And can Palace sustain this level of performance to truly transform this into a remarkable season in south London?
Glasner joined Palace in February 2024 following successful stints at Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt.
The 51-year-old has since guided Palace to back-to-back record points totals in the Premier League and led them to a first major trophy when they triumphed over Manchester City in the FA Cup last season.
That led to a first ever appearance in a major European competition – although it was downgraded from Europa League to Europa Conference League because of multi-club ownership rules – while they also beat league winners Liverpool to win the Community Shield.
Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports: “We are watching the best manager and the best team in Crystal Palace’s history.
“Those supporters could not have dreamed what would happen to their football club when that man came in.”
Selhurst Park has become one of the toughest places for teams to play with Palace unbeaten there in the league this season until defeat by United last weekend.
On the road, their form is arguably even better.
Since Glasner’s first game in charge in March 2024, only Arsenal (65), Liverpool (57) and Manchester City (55) have won more Premier League points away from home than Crystal Palace (52).
But the defeat by United prompted Glasner to criticise the club as he suggested the club-record £60m brought in by the sale of Eberechi Eze this summer has not been reinvested in the squad.
His side have lost all four league matches they have played after a midweek European match this season, suggesting squad depth and juggling the increased schedule demands has been a problem.
And Glasner was quick to point it out, saying the club had “thrown away” the chance to play an even better season by not spending in the summer.
“When he gets a result he doesn’t like, he is not shy in being outspoken about the board or the sporting director,” said Carragher.
“They probably have to take it on the chin because he is the greatest manager in their history.”
It is clear Glasner is an ambitious manager.
It is perhaps also clear that he feels he is being held back by a lack of depth in the squad while he will hope his comments spark a flurry of January transfer window action.
Glasner’s contract is set to expire in June and the ambitions of the club and the manager will need to align quickly if the success they are currently enjoying is to continue.
“There’s a huge talking point around Glasner himself with his contract,” former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given told BBC Sport.
“If you’re a director you’re trying to tie him down. The job he’s done is phenomenal – winning the FA Cup and Charity Shield and getting Palace into Europe. You couldn’t ask for any more.
“He was angry and upset after the United game as he felt he wasn’t backed in the summer. It will be interesting to see what happens in January and the summer and if they back him.”
Guehi’s contract runs out at the end of the season and interest from Liverpool in the England defender, who was close to a move away from Palace this summer, is only going to intensify given their defensive troubles.
Prolific playmaker Wharton is a man in demand with several clubs interested in his services.
Meanwhile, talented players like Ismaila Sarr, who is currently injured but will soon be heading to Afcon, and Jean-Philippe Mateta will certainly have dreams of playing Champions League football.
“The squad’s not big enough to rest players and it puts more strain on the Premier League games. Top six would be an unbelievable season but big clubs will be trying to do the same,” Given added.
This Palace squad might be in their greatest period ever but they are also on the brink of potentially disbanding with the possibility of a stellar campaign being derailed.
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