Oliver Glasner has outlined his big Crystal Palace wish ahead of Millwall showdown
Crystal Palace boss will face his first South London derby in the FA Cup sixth round tie at Selhurst Park on Saturday and OLiver Glasner is looking to take Palace to Wembley
Oliver Glasner reckons Saturday’s “High Noon” showdown with local rivals Millwall today will be a “big football party”.
The first South London derby between the two clubs at Selhurst Park since 2012 - and the only FA Cup tie in London this weekend - will see a massive police presence. And nearby Thornton Heath railway station will be closed before and after the game for “safety reasons”.
But before facing the Championship side, the Palace boss said: “I’m expecting a great game. A sold-out Selhurst Park and lovely weather is predicted. I think that’s why we all love football. It’s the FA Cup, Saturday, High Noon, so everything that we want. Everything is ready for a big football party.”
Glasner twice won the Austrian Cup as a player and led Eintracht Frankfurt to the 2022 Europa League trophy after winning at Barcelona and West Ham.
READ MORE: Chelsea make Marc Guehi transfer stance clear amid competition for Crystal Palace starREAD MORE: 'I'm a football fan like everybody else' - Millwall boss Alex Neil on VAR and Crystal PalaceAsked if the atmosphere today will be the fiercest he has ever faced in a cup, the Austrian said: “No I don’t think so. Winning the Europa League was the best cup competition I ever played. We won it in the end with the last penalty. Goosebumps on the whole body and hoping the last player scores.
"And winning at Camp Nou in front of 85,000. Unbelievable atmosphere. I think I have faced it many times. But of course it will be a great game, a great atmosphere.”
Safely in 12th place in the Premier League after consecutive wins, the 2016 finalists have a great chance of a good FA Cup run this season.
“I said to the players: If the gaffer has a wish, I wish to play at Wembley because I have never played there,” said Glasner.
The Eagles boss is considering resting Adam Wharton after the England midfielder’s first Premier League start since October in the midweek win over Aston Villa. But Glasner insisted he will play his “best team” against Millwall with Romain Esse, a £14.5m signing from the Lions last month, set to start on the bench.
“I know it’s maybe a special game for Romain,” said Glasner. “I definitely have in my mind that he will get some minutes.”
Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the winner the last time these two sides met in the FA Cup in January 2022 when he was back-up striker during Roy Hodgson ’s first spell in charge. The Olympic Silver medalist has since netted 26 goals in 40 matches under Glasner, including eight since the turn of the year.
Now the Austrian boss has insisted Ben Chilwell, who is on loan from Chelsea, can also make a big impact at Selhurst Park.
“It’s about getting the chance to kickstart his career again, that was his motivation,” said Glasner. “It’s the same with every single player, we talked about JP (Mateta). Then it’s up to him. He gets all the support, he is integrating great since Day One. He’s great in the dressing room, even if he’s on the bench, he’s talking before the game and sharing his experience and pushing.
“Also we can see progress on the pitch and getting back into a better rhythm. He didn’t have team training for the whole of January and now with every single training and every single game, he is coming closer to his best personal shape. This is what we want to see.”
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