Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Premier League game against Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Glasner confirmed Jefferson Lerma is back in the squad but not yet ready to start: "He trained with us and is OK. It's quite early, but if we need him for 15-20 minutes at the end we have him. Tottenham are very dangerous at set-pieces and Jeff is maybe our best player at defending them."

• He added that Chadi Riad and veteran full-back Nathaniel Clyne are "the only two other options we have" to start in place of the suspended centre-back Maxence Lacroix and "one of them will start".

• Reflecting on Lacroix's dismissal in Sunday's 2-1 defeat by Manchester United, Glasner said: "He is a big miss. We need other ones to step up and that's how we prepare. There are many people saying something on this situation but that's how the referee sees it and we must accept it. Even if most said it wasn't a foul and the referee shouldn't have even given a foul. But the game is over."

• More on the loss: "We took many positives but we see what we can and have to improve. That's what we showed, the players and how we trained. I said it when we started in January with new players we have to know each other and every game the experience is helpful. Now we are starting the crunch time. We are not there right now but we are going step-by-step in the right direction."

• On Jean-Phillipe Mateta's fitness: "We're planning for him to be partly integrated next Monday in the team training. It will be the same, starting from the bench. He was out for a long time, but his knee looks better now. We have to be careful, but the goal is that he is available for the Larnaca and Leeds games."

• Eddie Nketiah "won't be available before April" but Palace are "pushing hard to have him back in the team".

• Glasner was asked about January signing Brennan Johnson, who will return to his former side: "There are many positive sides but he hasn't found maybe the consistency in his performances. There are always highlights but he would like to score like any attacking player. I see his effort in training, he is a great player, he has all the skills that are needed, everything. We need to get his confidence back and then he will be a great player for Crystal Palace and for the rest of the season."

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Ellie Killick
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Could Spurs away be the perfect chance to pick up points, or have events at Manchester United ruined our chances?

In a game that saw Crystal Palace register 15 shots, Tottenham managed to snatch all three points thanks to a first-half strike last time the two sides met – which also happens to be the last game Spurs won.

I remember vividly leaving the stadium gobsmacked at how we'd left empty-handed after having not only racking up over a dozen efforts on goal, but also dominating possession.

Now, three months on, Tottenham sit 16th with just 29 points, winless in 10 and edging ever closer to the relegation zone.

While our form has continued to be shaky, wins against Wolves and more importantly Brighton have boosted us up out of danger – and on paper this looked like a fixture that could have nudged us further up the table.

However, coming off the back of a 2-1 loss to Manchester United is far from ideal. The result itself was perhaps to be expected with United's fine form of late, but Palace more than held their own in the first half, only to see the game slip away in the opening 10 minutes of the second.

An extremely harsh red card for Maxence Lacroix not only shifted momentum for that game, but now leaves us travelling to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with just one senior centre-back in Chris Richards.

The pressure and expectation will now inevitably fall on the less experienced Jaydee Canvot and Chadi Riad. Both have impressed in spells, but sustained quality at this level is still yet to be proven.

So not only do we travel without a crucial player, but momentum also lacks for Palace.

With Tottenham having a point to prove in front of a home crowd and survival at stake it could be a tough outing for the Eagles.

But if we start like we did at Old Trafford and finish like we did in North London last time, perhaps there's still reason to believe…

Find more from Ellie Killick at Eagle Eye View, external

Alex Pewter
Fan writer

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It would be tempting to devote the entire week to refereeing decisions and VAR in the Premier League. In the past months, it has been unclear what constitutes a handball under modern rules week to week, what is a foul in the box compared with the rest of the pitch, or, in Crystal Palace's case this week, the threshold for a goalscoring opportunity worthy of a red card.

Needless to say, there is a level of bitterness towards the decision-making at Old Trafford on Sunday, but alas, Oliver Glasner's team is now left without Maxence Lacroix for Thursday's encounter with Tottenham Hotspur, making Chris Richards the lone senior centre-back available.

There was a level of risk in selling Marc Guehi in January without an experienced replacement, even for the remainder of the season on loan. However, that situation has forced the team to use both Jaydee Canvot and the returning Chadi Riad in high-pressure games.

With both players gaining minutes for the remainder of this campaign, they would have otherwise lacked, it will allow the club to assess their potential to be in a starting role for the 2026-27 season. Both players have already amassed over 300 minutes in the six weeks since Guehi left the club.

As football prices have inflated over the past four or five years, the cost of Guehi in 2021 is similar to that of Canvot in 2025, meaning Palace are signing a player with far less senior experience. Guehi arrived with over 5,000 minutes at Swansea City, compared to Canvot's 1,300 minutes for Toulouse, which comes with growing pains.

The French youngster has excelled with his ground tackling and willingness to deal with physicality in that area, but has struggled aerially – understandable for a player thrown into Europe's toughest league as a teenager.

For now, fans will need to be patient if the dividends will be further down the road.

Find more from Alex Pewter at FYP podcast, external

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Manchester United's penalty and consequent Crystal Palace red card for Maxence Lacroix in Sunday's fixture at Old Trafford formed part of the debate on the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

Ex-Premier League striker Clinton Morrison said: "Lacroix, when he looks at it, should just let him go. I can understand why the penalty is given. My take on it is, the ball is getting away from Cunha and Henderson is closer. It should be a penalty, but a red card?

"If, as a striker, I am not getting to the ball, I am going to go down. I'm getting a penalty and Lacroix sent off. I've been in situations and instantly you just react and pull on the shirt."

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Manchester United and Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your comments:

Manchester United fans

Duncan: Unconvincing and strangely lacklustre, but still got the job done. It's not an easy run-in, so we shouldn't take Champions League for granted. The whole coaching team clearly suits the players, and we should keep them next season.

Gordon: A times flat and lacked creativity in first half - very predictable. The penalty was the major change and a good second goal but again didn't kick on and finish the game. Three points but room for considerable improvement

Patrick: This the United I've been waiting to see since Sir Alex's retirement. We're playing as a team, refusing to give up, even when down, confident, and have quality throughout the team. Cunha, Mbeumo, and Sesko have made a huge difference, and Maguire is finally, the talismanic defender we hope he would be. Fergie would be proud to manage this team. We remain a work in progress, my optimism feels apt at this point. As to the Glazers and Ratcliffe, carbuncles that need lancing. Our debt burden is worrying.

Mattie: There's only one Michael Carrick!

Crystal Palace fans

Ron: What a footballing disgrace. This referee has already proved he's not up to it. Never a penalty and never a red card. Palace played well and deserved a draw. Whoever goes to Old Trafford seems to play against twelve men. Canvot had another good game and is improving all the time. Strand Larsen and Johnson again were very disappointing. They need to find the right space to receive the ball which is badly lacking. It makes you wonder what they do in training.

James: This felt as if palace were 0-1 up when it was 11 vs 11, but 2-0 down when it was our ten vs eleven. Given a week ago we didn't look to be able to beat a wolves 11, this feels an improvement especially in how fluid we were with 11, the next challenge is remain with 11, and then we can look up the table and progress further in the conference.

Adrian: Better rhythm and confidence. We possibly play better against the stronger sides, rather than those who play a low block. It probably was a penalty despite starting outside the box and the guy throwing himself to the floor. But the red card was a clear and obvious error and should be overturned on appeal.

Mike: Very poor refereeing decision cost us today. Not even a foul, let alone a penalty or a red card. Any where else on the pitch that goes unnoticed.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Oliver Glasner was left frustrated at how Crystal Palace had twice led Manchester United at half-time this season and ended up with nothing on both occasions.

To him, this one hinged on the moment 11 minutes into the second half when Palace goalscorer Maxence Lacroix made a grab for Matheus Cunha. The initial contact was certainly outside the box, but continued into it and the United forward flung himself to the floor.

Referee Chris Kavanagh gave the penalty and, after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor, sent Frenchman Lacroix off.

Glasner described it as the 'Old Trafford bounce'.

"It's a very hard decision because the foul started outside the box and usually the foul has to be given where it starts," he said.

"On the other side, Matheus Cunha was very smart to wait until he's inside the box to fall.

"Maybe he could have conceded the red card with the foul outside the box, this is what you can discuss, but it's where the foul starts. Maybe it was the Old Trafford bounce."

While Glasner felt it was a 'home' decision, vastly experienced former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann said the ruling was right.

"Kavanagh took his time and used all his experience to rightly ascertain that contact continued inside the penalty area and awarded a penalty kick," he added.

"The red-card sanction was also the correct outcome. The law states 'where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goalscoring opportunity, and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender must be sent off if the offence is for holding or pulling'."

Crystal Palace will block any approaches from Tottenham and other clubs for goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who has been a crucial part of the success under Oliver Glasner. (Football Insider), external

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• Brighton 2-1 Nottingham Forest

• Fulham 2-1 Tottenham

• Manchester United 2-1 Crystal Palace

• Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It is decisive when you are 1-0 up and then concede a penalty and then have one player less. The foul was outside the box and the foul should be given where it starts, not where it ends. Matheus Cunha was very clever. We tried everything to get the equaliser and we were in good situations four or five times."

On tiredness in his squad: "I think we played three days ago and that impacts the game when you are one player down and the crowd gets back into the game and 1-1."

On Ismaila Sarr's miss: "A problem in the last weeks is that we are playing good parts in games but not consistently over 90 minutes. We always have to make changes to our back three since Marc [Guehi] left. There is no consistency in the back three."

On better performances: "Absolutely. The performances were not that bad. We're not that efficient and that ruthless in attack. The way the team is fighting, even here under difficult circumstances, gives me faith until the end of the season."

Did you know?

• Only West Ham (20) have lost more points from winning positions in the Premier League this season than Crystal Palace (19), with this the Eagles' second-most in a single campaign in the competition (23 in 2023-24).

• Maxence Lacroix has scored two goals in his last two games, as many as he managed in his first 81 appearances for Crystal Palace in all competitions. Both of his Premier League goals have come against Manchester clubs – Man City in December 2024, and Man Utd in March 2026.

• Lacroix became only the second visiting player to be score and be sent off in a Premier League game at Old Trafford, after Liverpool's Michael Owen in April 1998. Lacroix was just the fourth player to do so home and away for the Eagles in the competition, and first since Christian Benteke against West Ham in December 2020.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Man Utd's performance

What did you make of Crystal Palace's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Michael Carrick hands a starting spot to Benjamin Sesko following the Slovenian's match winner at Everton on Monday.

Amad Diallo drops to the bench in the only change to Carrick's entire squad as United look for a victory that would take them into third spot for the first time since the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

Manchester United XI: Lammens, Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha, Sesko.

Substitutes: Bayindir, Mazraoui, Zirkzee, Malacia, Amad, Ugarte, Heaven, T Fletcher, Moorhouse.

Oliver Glasner makes one change to the side that started Thursday's Europa League victory against Zrinjski.

Brennan Johnson replaces Evann Guessand even though the Ivory Coast international has scored in his last two games.

Yeremy Pino returns to the bench as Palace look for their third successive victory at Old Trafford.

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Canvot, Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell, Ismaila Sarr, Strand Larsen, Guessand.

Substitutes: Benitez, Pino, Uche, Clyne, Hughes, Sosa, Guessand, Riad, Devenny.

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Manchester United have been very good under Michael Carrick and they are a team full of confidence - Benjamin Sesko is a great example of that.

Palace picked up a late win over Wolves last time out but it still feels like their manager Oliver Glasner should have left by now, because there is such a negative atmosphere around the whole club.

I don't like to question anyone's commitment but, in this scenario, I think you have no choice. Glasner wants to leave, and the whole situation has been handled very badly.

Palace have won away at Manchester United in the past two seasons but, the way things are going for both teams, you'd only ever go for a home win here.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Manchester United will put their resurgence to the test against one of their more awkward opponents in recent years, as Crystal Palace visit Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday (14:00 GMT).

A dogged 1-0 win at Everton on Monday night propelled the Red Devils back into the top four. A Champions League place is very much United's to lose at this stage, although they will face pressure from Liverpool and Chelsea.

As for Palace, a win over Zrinjski Mostar on Thursday in the Conference League pushed them into the knockout stage proper. However, problems off the pitch remain.

Carrick finds formula for new transfers

It has been an impressive start for Michael Carrick in the Manchester United dugout, with five wins and a draw from his first six matches in charge of this spell. In the club's history, few have fared better in the early stages of their tenure.

Carrick has won all four of his home league games in charge (one in 2021, three in 2026). Only Frank O'Farrell has won his first five home league games in charge of the Red Devils, doing so in 1971 (he won his first six).

Carrick is also yet to lose any of his seven matches managing United across two spells. Only Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2018–19 with 11 and Herbert Bamlett in 1927 with 10 managed to accumulate more unbeaten games at the start of their respective tenures.

United were far from their best at Hill Dickinson Stadium but showcased the determination to get through the game. When the key moments came, they were able to produce moments of quality too.

Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko combined to set up the latter's goal on the counter-attack. The three summer signings have settled at different speeds at Old Trafford, but Carrick appears to be getting a tune out of all of them at the moment.

Glasner seeking more Old Trafford glory

Palace face a curious end to the season. The Eagles know their head coach, Oliver Glasner, is on the way out, and there were protests against him and the board at the previous game.

Even so, they remain in European competition and, after two wins from their last three Premier League games, there appears to be no danger of the team being dragged into a relegation battle.

Old Trafford is a venue where they have performed well in recent seasons, meaning even an in-form United side may not necessarily welcome a visit from the south London club.

Palace have won four of their last six league matches at Old Trafford. On Sunday, they are looking to become just the second London side to win three consecutive away league games against Manchester United, after Chelsea between 1967–68 and 1969–70.

The match will also be a big one for former United goalkeeper Dean Henderson. He has recently been handed the Palace captaincy and stepped up last weekend to save a penalty from Tolu Arokodare.

It means Henderson has now saved a third of the Premier League penalties he has faced - five out of 15 - which is the joint-highest ratio among goalkeepers to have faced at least 15 spot-kicks. Former United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich saved six of the 18 he faced.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Over the course of the last few weeks, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has resisted the urge to act on impulse.

Instead, his approach to, at least external uncertainty over head coach Oliver Glasner's future, has been measured.

Parish's path towards deciding, as of yet, not to bring forward the Austrian's exit from Selhurst Park may yet prove one of the defining factors in what the club hope will be another historic season climax.

In many ways, the easiest decision for Parish was to sack Glasner, who has already disclosed he is leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Ahead of the club's 1-0 win at Brighton on 12 February, the team had not won in 12 in all competitions.

Growing sections of the fanbase had turned on the Austrian, who had infamously aired his displeasure at the sanctioning of captain Marc Guehi's move to Manchester City before confirming his decision to leave this summer.

The win at the Amex Stadium provided brief respite, their 3-2 home loss to relegation threatened Burnley, having taken a two goal lead, just days later wasn't well received by supporters.

By the end of the Uefa Conference League first-leg play-off draw against Zrinjski Mostar last week, travelling fans were calling for Glasner's head.

Glasner continued to air his angst in public, calling on supporters to stay "humble" in the face of calls for his head – a soundbite that landed dreadfully with fans.

But Parish held his nerve when pressure to call time on Glasner's reign at Selhurst Park was as strong as it had ever been.

The result: two consecutive wins over Wolves and Zrinjski Mostar to book their place in the Conference League last 16 and to move to within just three points of eighth in the Premier League.

Plight has been replaced with optimism. Indeed, Palace have now lost just one game in six.

Of course, the merits of keeping faith with Glasner will be fully judged at the end of the season.

But Parish's decision to seek stability over upheaval at such a crucial stage of Palace's season has shown early signs of paying off.

As a lifetime Palace supporter it is, perhaps, harder for Parish than other club owners to disregard emotion from decisions regarding the club.

But Parish's apparent ability to compartmentalise shouldn't be underestimated in Palace's recent upturn.

Image source, Getty Images

The lack of a clear candidate to replace Glasner on a short-term basis would likely have been considered in recent weeks.

The managerial landscape will change drastically in the summer.

A number of managers that Palace would view as suitable candidates to replace Glasner, the likes of Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva, are set to be out of contract in the summer.

Thomas Frank, recently sacked by Tottenham, will be open to a new project from the summer.

Frank Lampard, who is currently in the midst of a promotion tilt with Coventry, is highly regarded at Selhurst Park and could be enticed by a return to London depending on how this season ends.

Sean Dyche is out of work and will look to return ahead of next season.

It is logical for Palace to wait until the summer as they look to appoint Glasner's successor.

You would imagine Glasner's body of work would also have been a point of consideration for Parish in recent weeks.

The Austrian is widely recognised as the team's greatest ever manager having led Palace to last season's historic FA Cup victory – their first ever major trophy – the Community Shield triumph over Liverpool in August and the club's first ever foray in European football.

Things behind the scenes are not perfect and while Glasner's public outbursts are not ideal, there is a recognition that in the 49-year-old they still have an accomplished coach that has led the club to arguably the greatest period in its history.

That counts for something.

There is also an understanding that Glasner can be emotional and, on occasion, those emotions can spill over.

With that all said, relations between the club and Glasner are described as positive and certainly not as unfavourable as some would assume given the public comments made by the manager.

More recently, Palace have sensed a greater zeal in Glasner amid a sense that the manager is focused on bringing the curtain down on his reign with further glory.

So, for now, Palace will continue with Glasner at the helm. Unless there is a significant change in the course of events in the coming weeks, the expectation is that Glasner will see out his contract before riding off into the sunset.

There has always been a reluctance from Parish to fire Glasner for the reasons outlined above.

That reluctance certainly hasn't waned in light of the club's recent improvement. Parish won't be rushing to fire a manager he views as one of the greatest the club has ever had.

If the Austrian can add the club's first-ever European trophy then Parish's decision to stick should not be overlooked.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Manchester United at Old Trafford (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He acknowledged it is a fast turnaround from Thursday's game but "the players will be ready, with two days of recovery and training".

• On whether Maxence Lacroix will be fit enough to play twice in three days: "That's the big question - I don't know. Hopefully the goal helps a little bit! Right now, it looks OK, but let's see how the reaction is."

• He praised Jaydee Canvot for his "very good game" against Zrinjski in which he showed his "pace" against a quick front-line.

• He said they have "great memories" from Palace's 2-0 victory at Old Trafford last season and need to play with "confidence" again on Sunday.

• On what he expects from Michael Carrick's side: "Manchester United are on a good run. I watched their game Monday night at Everton. It was a fantastic transition goal [from Benjamin Sesko], and you can see the pace they have in their attack. They are a very good team, they have a very good balance."

• Glasner said he will re-watch the defeat against United earlier this season to see if there are any lessons they can learn and "analyse them in detail" with the hope of creating a tight game.

• He said the back-to-back clean sheets "will help" going into this match because they will "have to defend very well" against United's attacking players.

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The draw for the last 16 of the Conference League has been completed and Crystal Palace will face AEK Larnaca.

It will be the second time the two teams have met this season, after Palace lost to the Cypriot side 1-0 at Selhurst Park in the league phase.

If they should beat Larnaca and progress to the quarter-finals, they will meet either Fiorentina or Rakow.

They could then face one of Lech Poznan, Shakhtar Donetsk, AZ Alkmaar or Sparta Prague in the semi-final for a place in the final on Wednesday, 27 May.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Thursday's Conference league win over Zrinjski.

Here are some of your comments:

Andy: It was a better performance tonight with more fight and passion. Still a bit concerned we are giving the ball away and we look vulnerable. Plenty of positives and we need to ensure passing when attacking is on the front foot, not behind the player leaving us flat footed and going back.

Robert: I saw Johnson come on as a substitute, but then he disappeared. Was he hiding behind a goalpost?

Selhurst: Got the win. Relief and glad to go through. But need more improvement quickly in what was another tepid performance overall.

Trevor: A step in the right direction. Thought Guessand and Canvot, both newcomers to the squad, were exceptional.

Sam: Solid, perhaps fortunate to score at good moments although it really should have been four or five by the end. Good to see Canvot improving, this was a challenging game and he came through with flying colours. Clean sheets are making such a difference!

Neil: We were just too strong for the Bosnian team and at 2-0 it never looked in any doubt whatsoever. Roll on the next opponents! Glad all over. Well done boys - you have made me proud to be a Eagles fan!

Simon: I was always more worried about the early stages, we struggle against 10 men behind the ball. They did what needed doing though and I'm cautiously optimistic about the knockout stage. Players are back from injury and new players are integrating. It wasn't a perfect performance, but definitely heading in the right direction again.

Steve: While Palace dominated possession, they struggled to create too many chances in the first half. Wharton's excellent free kick, and Lacroix's bullet header settled a few jangling nerves. After the break, Palace controlled the game without too many alarms. The final few minutes contained a few scares, but Guessand's goal in added time put some sweet icing on a very enjoyable cake.

Gary: A much improved performance. We were dominant throughout and it could have been five or six. Two wins and clean sheets. We must build on this now we have some momentum. Guessand is a quality player and is sure to become a fans' favourite if he's not already.

Image source, Getty Images

Goalkeeper Dean Henderson reacts to Europa Conference League progress: "We're hungry for more [silverware] but you don't talk about winning it three months out.

"It's knockout football and we go into it with confidence. You see the supporters get into the stadium early and Selhurst was rocking tonight and we can make it a fortress."

Former Palace defender James Tomkins, speaking on TNT Sports, said: "They go through to the next stage, into the last 16 of this competition and they are favourites to go on and win it from here.

"They've got to concentrate on the Conference League. The opportunity they've got is incredible. To add a third trophy in two seasons would be remarkable and beyond the wildest dreams of the fans.

"They needed a second goal to get over the line and it's a great night for the club. The atmosphere is amazing and you can see all the fans are behind the team and the manager and it means a lot."

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Despite all the on and off-field chaos, Crystal Palace, 13th in the Premier League but 10 points above the relegation zone, could still make more club history by winning their first European trophy.

They remain favourites to win the Conference League, despite only coming 10th in the league phase. The only surprise against Bosnian champions Zrinjski, a strong and well-organised but limited side, was that Palace's winning margin was not bigger.

Guessand, Jorgen Strand Larsen and Daichi Kamada all had goalbound efforts deflected wide before Adam Wharton provided the quality with a wonderful flighted assist for Maxence Lacroix's headed first-half goal.

Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson did not have a shot on target to deal with from the visitors, although Zrinjski's only real chance came in the 91st minute with Tomi Juric heading wastefully wide, before Evann Guessand scored to seal their place in the next round.

Their potential last-16 opponents will not cause any fear for Palace as Mainz are 13th in the German Bundesliga, while Larnaca only scored seven goals in six matches in the league phase, although they did beat the Eagles 1-0 in October.

But for now, Oliver Glasner, facing regular questions about his position, stays in his role and the Eagles continue their pursuit of a trophy for the ultimate end to a campaign full of highs and lows.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner speaking to TNT Sports: "It means a lot. We didn't have easy weeks and therefore now having two back-to-back wins at Selhurst Park. The games where everyone is expecting a win are often the most difficult one. Playing Wolves at home, everyone was expecting a win and we did it in the final minutes, and today the same. Today was a very clinical win.

"We took our lessons from the first game and then waited for our moments, and then at the end decided the game."

On the support from the fans: "We always said - since day number one - we've had a great relationship with the fans. They are always supporting us. Yes, they were a little bit critical but this can be. They can be critical when the results and performances are not that well.

"But I think overall, we are now in a good position in the Premier League and the last 16 of the Conference League – playing European football for the first time. I think now we can work on our consistency, integrating new players and having good impact. I think we are on track.

"In three days we go to Old Trafford. We don't just go there for a holiday to Manchester but hopefully to win."

More from Palace manager Oliver Glasner, when asked if he had received any assurances about his future:"100% assurance. If the players believe in me and the staff, that's the most important thing. Otherwise, you can pack your suitcase and go home because the players have to perform on the pitch.

"We have a great togetherness in the group – players, staff, really positive. The same with the sporting director and the chairman. They are sometimes wondering, 'Hey, this is the second best Premier League season ever. The best was last year. So maybe the best two years in Crystal Palace's history, playing European football for the first time – and there is so much noise?' Sometimes we really don't understand it.

"Maybe I gave some interviews that weren't really helpful, I have to admit. But on the other side, I always say what I feel. Sometimes it's positive, sometimes it's not so positive. But that's who I am.

"In the end, we are in a good position in the league and Conference League and so it's up to us to get a result and make a real good season of it."