Frustrated Oliver Glasner namechecks the three Leicester City players who worry him most
Oliver Glasner believes Leicester City have ‘a great manager’ and has name-checked the three Foxes players who concern him most.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday night’s trip to the King Power Stadium, the Crystal Palace boss praised van Nistelrooy, who ended a five game losing streak with victory in the FA Cup on Saturday.
City go into the match on the back of today’s positive news that they have complied with the Premier League’s Profitability & Sustainability Rules – but in desperate need of points to drag them out of the bottom three.
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Victory over Palace could do just that and cut the deficit on the Eagles to four points – and Glasner says the home side have the players to do that.
"I think Ruud van Nistelrooy is a great manager. I think he showed this in his interim games with Manchester United. I have a lot of respect for him,” he said.
"We always have respect for our opponents. It was the same against Stockport and they showed us they were a good side.
"They have wingers with pace, like [Stephy] Mavididi. El Khannouss has signed for more than 20 million, a very creative player.
"Jamie Vardy is one of the top scorers in the last decade in the Premier League. So it's a good team, a good mixture between experience and young and talented, high-challenging players. It's a little challenging, but again, we feel very good."
However, Glasner wants clarity over whether Chelsea will recall on-loan defender Trevoh Chalobah and is uncertain whether he will be available for Wednesday night.
Frustrated Glasner revealed “a contractual issue” had prevented Chalobah from playing in Palace’s FA Cup third-round victory over Stockport on Sunday. With Chelsea centre-backs Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana both injured, there has been speculation Chalobah could be set for an early return to Stamford Bridge.
Glasner admits the “tricky situation” is far from ideal but remains hopeful the issues can be resolved for the 25-year-old to continue his stint at Selhurst Park, having signed on a season-long loan in the summer.
“It is a little bit (of) a tricky situation,” he continued. “I want to always be honest. Chelsea has the possibility to call him back from loan. There is a little bit of uncertainty at the moment – will they do it, when they will do it.
“I have to take the best decision for our team. We need clarity, he needs clarity, so that is the situation and let’s see. I never tell you who is playing, this is the same. I will decide what is best for our team and maybe Trevoh is involved or not (against Leicester), so let’s see.
“He wants to stay here but it is a decision Chelsea can take to call him back. We are passengers – we are not the pilot who is flying the plane, so we have to wait how they decide.
“We need all the players being in the best physical and mental shape and of course not having the clarity is not so easy, especially for Trevoh.
“I have talked to him. He feels very well (settled) here at Crystal Palace. He is performing very well, has scored three goals for us and has a high standing in our locker room, so many positive signals here, but he also has to wait how they decide.
“My wish and I am pretty sure Trevoh’s wish, is that he stays with us. Chelsea loaned him to us to give him minutes, to improve his game, this is what he did – but I think he is not finished, that is why we made a one-year loan deal, but let’s see.”
Glasner confirmed the recent bout of flu within the squad had cleared up. Jean-Philippe Mateta, Maxence Lacroix and Tyrick Mitchell have all been able to train normally, while midfielder Will Hughes will be available again following a foot injury.
Adam Wharton is also making good progress in his recovery from surgery to repair an issue affecting his hip and groin and could return at the end of January.
