Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner makes frustration clear after Eberechi Eze decision
Crystal Palace boss claims Eberechi Eze has been "fantastic" despite the South London club sitting in the bottom three, with his side's No.10 having been left out of the England squad
by Neil McLeman · The MirrorOliver Glasner has claimed he cannot understand why “fantastic” Eberechi Eze has been dropped by England. And the Austrian insisted he is more worried about the election results in his homeland than Palace’s current form.
Playmaker Eze won a place in Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad after inspiring his club to six wins in the final seven games of last season. But the Austrian’s side sit in the bottom three without a Premier League win before hosting Liverpool at lunchtime.
And Eze, who has one league goal, has been left out of Lee Carsley’s latest squad with Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer fit again. Yet Glaser said: “I don’t understand why he’s not announced for England - he plays fantastic for us. The difference is that he has missed all his chances.
"There was a disallowed goal at Brentford at the start of the season - this would be number one. There was a crossbar/post shot against West Ham where millimetres decide it. He had two big chances against Man United. He’s so close and there is a knot that needs to be released. But he’s playing really well and has all the chances. He could have five or six goals.
"He’s so close and there is a knot that needs to be released. But he’s playing really well and has all the chances.
"I talk to him and he wants it. He says: ‘I have so many chances but I don’t have the number of goals I could have’. In this situation we encourage him and say, ‘Come on, stay cool’. It’s not always training, training.
"The chance against Man United at the end of the game, from 100 he scores 998 and this was one that he missed. He has to stay relaxed, work for the team and not focus too much on these things. That’s why I don’t understand why he is not selected for England But you can see the glass half-empty and half-full and it means he will get several days off that he also needs. He had a very short break and has played all the games for us. Now he can have some days resting with his family.”
Adam Wharton is also set to be withdrawn from the Under 21 squad because of his nagging groin injury. “We have to take care,” said Glasner. Eze scored the winner at Anfield in April to earn a victory which sparked their strong finish to the season.
“It's a great win, but it's the past,” the head coach stated.
The Austrian showed his irritation with “external factors” which have hindered the start to the season after a chaotic transfer window.
“We made four signings on deadline day,” he said. “We could have done it maybe five weeks earlier, then we would be in the progress five weeks further. But this didn't happen.”
He added: “I think it's unfair for everyone to expect that we win all six of seven games because then we win the Premier League.”
But with the Freedom Party securing the first far-right election victory in post-World War II Austria on Sunday, Glaser insisted: “I am not worried about the confidence in the squad. I am worried about other things in the world. The elections in Austria. It looks like a trend of right-wing populism.
"This worries me. If it is populism, history shows us that it always ends in a dramatic way. But we are convinced that we will win soon, and the next chance we have tomorrow.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky Sports deal
Sky Sports launches 'lowest price' Premier League package
£43 (was £52)
Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £216 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
With Ultra HD included at no extra cost, football fans can enjoy the 2024/25 season with crystal clear picture quality.