Crystal Palace Boss Says Fixture Timing Is Unfair Ahead of Clash With Aston Villa
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has voiced his frustration at what he views as unfair scheduling ahead of their FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa. The Premier League rejected Palace’s request to align midweek fixtures so that both sides had equal rest before Saturday’s clash at Wembley.
While Aston Villa played on Tuesday against Manchester City, Palace were forced to wait until Wednesday to face Arsenal, giving their semi-final opponents a full extra day of recovery. Glasner expressed disappointment but insisted Palace would still field a strong side at the Emirates.
“Yes, we wanted it, but sometimes you are shouting against the wind and nobody hears you,” Glasner said. “Fair would be if both teams played on the same day. At this stage of the season, two or three days’ rest can make a difference.”
No Squad Rotation, No Excuses
Despite the scheduling setback, Glasner made clear he won’t rest players against Arsenal. Eddie Nketiah, a former Arsenal academy product, is expected to start in a strong lineup.
“We could put out the under-21s so we can train for the Villa game. But that is not what we want,” Glasner said. “The players all told me they want to give their best and show our identity.”
Glasner Reflects on Past Mistakes
Glasner also shared a lesson from his earlier managerial career: “When I was a younger manager in Austria, I rotated the entire squad for a cup game before a big derby. We won the cup game, had a fully fit team—but lost the derby 2-0. I said I’d never do that again.”
Palace Finding Form
Crystal Palace steadied their recent form with a goalless draw at Bournemouth after conceding 10 goals in their two prior matches. However, they will be without Chris Richards, suspended following a red card. Glasner will make enforced changes but emphasized he will not disrupt the team’s rhythm.
With Villa looming, Palace will need both focus and fitness—despite the imbalance in preparation time.
Category: FA Cup, Crystal Palace FC, Premier League
Tags: Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace, FA Cup, Aston Villa, Premier League schedule, fixture congestion, Eddie Nketiah, Arsenal vs Palace, player rest
