In the grand theatre of London football, the spotlight traditionally bathes the storied scripts of Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, and, more recently, West Ham United. Yet from the shadows of South London, a compelling new narrative has emerged—one penned by Crystal Palace under the meticulous orchestration of Oliver Glasner. With their recent FA Cup triumph over Pep Guardiola’s formidable Manchester City, the Eagles have etched their name into history, claiming their first major piece of silverware and, with it, a coveted place in the UEFA Europa League. Selhurst Park, once the venue of modest ambition, is now set to host European nights of consequence.
Glasner, a tactician celebrated for his transformative spell at Eintracht Frankfurt, has proven once again that systemic cohesion and strategic faith can overturn the direst of fortunes. Where others see limitations, Glasner identifies potential. The Austrian’s insistence on a 3-4-3 formation—once dismissed as impractical by many Premier League managers—has flourished in his hands. While the early months of the season were mired in disarray, with Palace languishing perilously close to the bottom of the table, the tide has since turned in dramatic fashion.
From December onwards, Palace accumulated 40 points from 23 league matches—a run of form that, had it begun earlier, might well have lifted them into the fringes of Champions League contention. The team that once seemed destined for struggle has become a model of vertical intensity, tactical discipline, and positional synergy.
Much of this revival lies in the precise alignment between Glasner’s philosophy and his personnel. Unlike many contemporaries who impose systems ill-suited to their squads, Glasner has tailored his demands to the attributes of his players—particularly his wing-backs. In Daniel Muñoz and Tyrick Mitchell, he possesses a duo adept at one-on-one duels, both ranking among the Premier League’s top 10 for tackles made. These are not merely full-backs rebranded—they are the very spine of the team’s pressing identity.
Palace’s press is neither frantic nor easily provoked. It is patient, calculated. The inside forwards shepherd opponents wide, where Muñoz and Mitchell lie in wait. This funneling strategy channels opposition attacks into the Eagles' zone of strength, where transitions are sparked and momentum reclaimed.
Defensive steel is complemented by attacking verve. Cult favourite Maxence Lacroix embodies the newfound resolve at the back, while the creativity up front has found renewed life in the form of Eberechi Eze and Ismaïla Sarr. The latter, a summer acquisition from Marseille, has blossomed in a central role—scoring seven Premier League goals and four in cup competitions. No longer confined to the flanks, Sarr now cuts through the heart of defences with clinical purpose.
His renaissance is aided by the metronomic rhythm of Adam Wharton. The young English midfielder possesses a passing range that rivals the Premier League elite. Only the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne, and James Maddison surpass him in progressive distribution. Wharton and Will Hughes are among the top midfielders for line-breaking passes per 90 minutes, underscoring Glasner’s rejection of sterile possession in favour of vertical incision.
Indeed, Palace’s stylistic fingerprints are unique. They record the fewest build-up attacks—defined by Opta as sequences of 10 or more passes culminating in a shot or penalty-box entry. They also operate with the narrowest width per passing sequence and the league’s lowest pass completion rate. But far from being symptoms of disorder, these metrics reveal a philosophy that values forward intent over control for control’s sake. It is football driven by momentum, not maintenance.
At the tip of the spear stands Jean-Philippe Mateta, whose importance transcends his tally of 14 league goals. Since Glasner’s arrival, only Alexander Isak, Erling Haaland, and Mohamed Salah have outscored the Frenchman. But it is his relentless movement—329 penetrating runs against the back line—that fractures defences and sculpts space for Eze, Sarr, and others to exploit. Among Premier League forwards, only Ollie Watkins makes a higher proportion of such runs. Mateta is not merely a finisher; he is the catalyst.
What Glasner has cultivated is a system in perfect equilibrium—each cog spinning in harmony with the next. Palace are no longer a club defined by struggle or survival. They are a team with identity, purpose, and now, silverware. The Austrian’s blueprint, forged through adversity and refined in South London, has turned a fledgling season into a historic one.
The Eagles have taken flight—not on the wings of tradition or wealth, but on the strength of conviction, intelligence, and tactical clarity. And as Selhurst Park prepares to echo with the anthems of Europe, Glasner’s Crystal Palace stand as a testament to what can be achieved when a club dares to dream—and dares to do it differently.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
