Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner isn’t holding back on his expectations for young winger Romain Esse after Tuesday’s EFL Cup match against Millwall. Esse, who joined Palace from Millwall in January for a reported £12 million fee (potentially rising to £14.5 million with add-ons), failed to impress Glasner in his second start of the season. The 20-year-old was taken off at halftime, and Glasner admitted he wasn’t pleased with Esse’s performance.
Glasner’s Verdict
- “Romain Esse must improve to get chances with Crystal Palace.”
- “If I get the feeling a player doesn’t help the team win the game, he doesn’t get many minutes.”
- “It’s simple, football is not so difficult. When you get a chance, you have to perform and show you can help the team win the game.”
The Match
Crystal Palace edged out Millwall 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the game ended 1-1 in regular time. Chris Richards scored for Palace in the 72nd minute, but Ryan Leonard equalized for Millwall in stoppage time, forcing the match into penalties. Debutant goalkeeper Walter Benítez was the hero for Palace, saving two penalties to seal the win ¹.
What’s Next for Esse?
Glasner will have a chat with Esse to discuss his performance, emphasizing that playing time is directly tied to results. With Palace’s next match against West Ham on Saturday, Esse will need to step up his game to secure a spot in the starting lineup ².
