Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner attended a pre-match press conference ahead of the club's English Premier League fixture against Manchester City. Glasner provided updates on Amiín Leistner, Chadi Riad, and new signing Moussa Aïssou, while also addressing speculation surrounding Jean-Philippe Mateta's future and external interest in Ismaïla Sarr. He discussed the team's response to their loss against Everton, the challenges posed by Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Enzo Maresca, and the significance of their first official match at Selhurst Park. Glasner also touched on squad management during the transfer window, contrasting his approach with that of Maresca and Pep Guardiola, and the atmosphere expected for Friday night's fixture.

What is the recovery status of Amiín Leistner and Chadi Riad?

Amiín Leistner is experiencing significant hip pain and remains in individual training, missing today's team session. However, we are preparing him progressively as his recovery advances. I initially expected a quicker recovery, but ultimately I'm not a doctor—I can only wait and help prepare him for his return to team play.

What is Riad's situation? Have the scan results come back? Is there any new information?

With this type of injury, it's difficult to provide an exact recovery timeline at the moment, so we are still seeking a second specialist's opinion. We'll wait for that assessment before announcing any formal conclusions.

Is there any chance Riad plays against Manchester City on Friday?

Riad? No, that's not possible.

Pierre, what new insights have you gained about the team in recent days? After losing your opening match against Everton, how are you feeling? What have you learned?

The players are clearly frustrated, and I understand that completely. They know exactly what happened in the match. Everyone felt we should have scored in the first half—had we done so, the game might have unfolded differently. But in football, it's not just about whether you should win or score; you actually have to convert chances into goals. Ultimately, football is about efficiency, and we lacked that in that match. That's why we lost. To improve, we need to enhance both our ability to create chances and our finishing. That's the focus moving forward.

You've repeatedly stated that Crystal Palace fans were a key reason for joining the club. How much are you looking forward to your first official match at Selhurst Park?

It will be a special moment, but I want to enjoy that occasion at the end of the match with good news. So I'm not thinking about myself in this situation. What matters most is the team and the result. We've prepared all week because we want to make the fans happy. Of course, the fans will be delighted to see us, but what they really want is for us to win.

We spoke about Moussa Aïssou last week, and the transfer has now been officially confirmed. Why did you decide to sign him?

Now that everything is official, it's good news for us—especially considering Chadi Riad's injury. That's exactly why we brought him in. He joined the squad quickly, though we had to wait some time beforehand. As I mentioned, the negotiations were difficult. We eventually reached an agreement with him and his club. He's now ready and completed his first training session with us today. Since he hasn't played competitive matches early in the season, we'll monitor his fitness carefully. But he's a footballer who understands his responsibilities. We'll give him time to integrate with the team.

What qualities do you like about him?

Many things. First, he brings stability and can help the team in this position because we have injuries and needed to strengthen our squad at center-back.

We may need to bring in another defender for this position, but with Aïssou, we'll continue to assess his progress. He gives us confidence and experience. He has the ability to play out from the back and can operate across different defensive positions in a three-man defense. So he's a good option for us.

There has been considerable speculation surrounding Mateta and this club over recent months. An AC Milan move in January was widely reported to have fallen through, and the BBC reported this week that he questioned the validity of his contract. I understand Crystal Palace recognizes the contract and that he is currently properly registered as a Palace player. But have you spoken with him? Is he happy? What are your thoughts on his situation?

I speak with him every day. In front of me, he's a character who is pleased to be here. He gives his best in every training session. I don't believe there are any issues between him and the club or myself. That's why he started in our last match. If there were problems, I imagine he wouldn't have started. There is one issue to resolve, though to be more precise, it may be a personal matter rather than something related to his status as a player.

Is it easy to manage such situations?

He clearly hasn't refused to play; he participated in last weekend's match and has remained under contract with Crystal Palace throughout. But it's evident that something is happening behind the scenes.

How should this situation be handled? Do you hope he stays once the transfer window closes?

I believe he will stay. As I've said, he seems happy to be here, wants to remain, and is acting like someone prepared to play for the team throughout the season. So while I understand the question, I have no doubts whatsoever.

I imagine there's a similar question regarding Ismaïla Sarr. Just before we started this interview, there were reports that Liverpool has strong interest in him. In such cases, when a big club like Liverpool is pursuing a player, is it inevitably difficult to keep him?

I understand that for someone facing such reports, there's always some hesitation, which can make things difficult. But right now, he's still with us and under contract. As I mentioned, he's currently injured. Some may link his injury to current speculation, but in my opinion, he's been straightforward, and there's no issue there. I spoke with him about this yesterday and this morning. We simply want him back on the pitch, and the rest is something others can deal with.

Without going through each player's name individually, is it difficult to keep hold of these excellent players you have?

As I mentioned earlier, Sarr and Mateta are receiving clear, concrete attention from other clubs, and I'm aware that other clubs are interested in some of our other players as well.

Do you anticipate Crystal Palace losing some of these players and needing to bring in replacements?

That's how modern football works. When the transfer window opens, you know there will be considerable noise and activity surrounding players. Some players may not be accustomed to such situations, and neither are their agents or families. So being inside the club, it's not an ideal time. But once the transfer window closes, we'll focus on performance and simply wait for all of this to be over.

AI翻訳。

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