Crystal Palace manager, Oliver Glasner has welcomed a “positive” 1-1 draw at Chelsea.
Palace had began the season with defeats against Brentford and West Ham but salvaged a draw in their third London derby of the Premier League season, after Eberechi Eze’s equaliser cancelled out Nicolas Jackson’s strike.
The draw also ended a run of 13 straight top-flight losses against Chelsea, which left Glasner pleased due to an injury crisis limiting his first-team squad availability as he spoke to PalaceTV post-match.
“An absolutely positive point with all the circumstances, coming here after two defeats in the Premier League. Just 14 players from our squad were available because of injuries or new players who couldn’t play today, and there were four from the Under-21s.”
Glasner proceeded to explain that Palace “deserved” to trail at half-time but a couple of tweaks provided “… the spirit, with the belief, with the togetherness,” to fight back for their first point of the campaign with “very good shape” in second half.
Reflecting on where Palace went wrong in the first half, Glasner believed that they didn’t create chances properly, whilst playing into Chelsea’s intensity
“The first-half, we didn’t find the opportunities where they are. We had it in the preparation and then we showed them again at half-time that we have to switch the game and find the opposite ten.
“We had them in the pocket and we didn’t find him in the first-half. He was always free but we didn’t find him.
“And also the wing-backs, we know, with Daniel Muñoz, with Tyrick Mitchell, we have runners there always, but we didn’t find them, especially on the opposite side and we showed the guys, let’s switch.
“We always played into their pressure and then they showed their pace in transition. They scored the goal and we can’t defend anymore.”
Glasner consequently praised goalkeeper, Dean Henderson for his efforts which contributed to the eventual draw.
“We were in two or three situations a little bit lucky – we had a great goalkeeper [Dean Henderson] today, but you need this to get the point here.
“Especially after the goal, I think he was knocked down and also not doing the easy way and go out to really be here for the team, be here for the group.
“He’s absolutely amazing and then he gets the reward with this big save, but we know that he’s a great goalkeeper and that’s why he’s also nominated for the national team.”
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