Glasner Rejects “Title Kingmaker” Role: “I’m Not on the Arsenal or City Payroll”
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has hit back at suggestions that his team selection could unfairly tip the scales in the Premier League title race. With Palace scheduled to face both Manchester City and Arsenal in the final stretch of the season, the manager clarified that his primary loyalty lies solely with his own club’s success.
On Squad Rotation and Responsibility
When questioned about whether he would rotate his lineup for these high-stakes fixtures—potentially resting key players ahead of Palace’s Conference League final—Glasner dismissed any notion of external influence. He joked that after checking his payslip, he found no evidence of payments from either title contender.
- Primary Focus: Glasner emphasized that his responsibility is to Crystal Palace, not to the title ambitions of the league leaders.
- Tactical Necessity: He argued that any rotation is a matter of necessity due to a grueling schedule of games every three days, rather than an attempt to influence the standings.
Maintaining Competitive Intensity
Glasner was adamant that his squad would not “coast” through their final league matches to save energy for their European final against Rayo Vallecano.
- Fitness Standards: He highlighted the team’s elite physical data from recent matches as proof of their commitment and conditioning.
- The “Switch” Mentality: The manager asserted that players cannot simply “switch off” for two weeks and expect to be at peak performance for a final; maintaining league intensity is the only way to stay prepared.
The Impact of VAR
In a final dismissive note toward the “kingmaker” narrative, Glasner suggested that officiating technology would likely have a much larger impact on who lifts the trophy than his tactical decisions.
“Our influence on the title race will definitely be less than VAR,” Glasner stated, refocusing the conversation on the unpredictable nature of the game rather than his squad management.
