Crystal Palace manager, Oliver Glasner described their Conference League Play-Off first-leg win over Fredrikstad as “important” for momentum.
Jean-Philippe Mateta headed in a 54th-minute winner as Palace enjoyed a debut victory at home in their first-ever European match.
Glasner, a previous UEFA Europa League winner with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022, was pleased to get the win even though it was only a slender victory, having expected the Norwegian club to play defensively and frustrate them as he spoke to UK broadcaster, Channel 5 post match.
“Goal number one is winning the game and if you wish something, you want always to win four or five-nil, but we could see it’s not so easy.
“The game was exactly how we expected: Frederik playing very deep, defending the box very well, so we had, I think, four or five very good chances. We hit the post twice, so we were not that efficient, and then it’s not that easy.
“But at the end it’s important, taking the win, first game in Europe and winning. We’re still at the start of the season, and the second time in a row having a clean sheet is also important, so we are on track.”
Glasner however revealed that he hadn’t expected Fredrikstad to go for a “very deep” 5-4-1 formation and instead expected “a 3-5-2 or 5-3-2” formation instead, but praised his team for how they adapted tactically to create space.
Marc Guehi played a more attacking role with crosses from central defence, whilst midfielder – Adam Wharton also provided crosses from midfield as Glasner’s Eagles opted to adopt a cross-based approach to unlocking Fredrikstad’s defence.
“And then I think after 15, 20 minutes, we changed a little bit. We wanted either Justin Devenny, like a No. 10, playing more in a 3-1-6, and Will Hughes overloading the left side and then getting more players in the box.
“It was difficult to find space in the pocket. There was no space, so it means you have to come from the wing, and this then worked better. We had a big chance with Ismaila Sarr.
“And then it’s when they dropped with all their nine or ten players into the box, then we have Marc, who can play great crosses. We had Adam with a few good crosses. We had finishes, but we didn’t score.
“Then we said: ‘OK, stay patient, keep going’. And at the end, JP’s head was somewhere in the way and deflected the ball.”
With the second leg to come on Thursday 28 August, Glasner admitted Fredrikstad’s AstroTurf pitch will pose a new challenge, but he is anticipating an equally tough game, although his immediate focus is on their home game against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday 24 August.
“First of all, it will be AstroTurf, also new for us.
“But again, I expect a similar game. We could see they are playing very straightforward, having long throw-ins. I think we defended all these set-pieces very well. It’s not so easy. And that will be the same.
“And then we will get our chances, we will get our situations. Again, first game in Europe, first win, good start to the European competition, but now it’s OK, switching the focus to Nottingham Forest.”
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