Glasner will not sacrifice Premier League games for Conference League push

Oliver Glasner insisted he will not make wholesale changes for Crystal Palace’s remaining Premier League fixtures to prioritise the Conference League, after Monday’s 0-0 draw with West Ham.

Palace returned to domestic action following their 4-2 aggregate win over Fiorentina in the Conference League quarter-finals, as they battled to a point at Selhurst Park.

Glasner made four changes to his starting lineup, with midfielder Adam Wharton out injured while Jean-Philippe Mateta, Ismaila Sarr and Daichi Kamada started on the bench.

Two of those substitutes almost combined for a late winner as Sarr fired home on the turn, but the goal was disallowed due to the ball coming off Mateta’s arm in the build-up.

It was Palace’s sixth goalless draw in the Premier League this season, the most by a side in a single campaign since Newcastle United in 2022-23 (seven).

With the Eagles safely ensconced in mid-table, 11 points above the relegation zone and 12 off the top five, the most important games remaining in Glasner’s reign are in Europe.

They face Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of their Conference League semi-final tie on April 30, with a trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool to come before then.

But when asked if he would protect his players in the build-up to that tie, Glasner told BBC Sport: “No. They will have two days of rest before Liverpool, then we start preparing.

“Five days after is the semi-final. We will be fresh, there is enough time.

“Maybe after the first leg we will have to rotate, but as long as the players are in shape, we will keep playing the freshest players and minds.”

Both teams had nine shots apiece, with Palace only hitting the target once compared to West Ham doing so four times.

The Eagles only had 0.68 expected goals (xG) in a tight affair, with their visitors having 0.61.

“I felt like it was a game to win,” Glasner continued. “The areas they gave us, we didn’t really take them well enough. We defended very well, though, so credit to the team.

“Their biggest threat was the set-plays. From open play, we more or less controlled everything, but in possession we moved the ball a bit too slowly.

“Also, credit to West Ham, who defended the box very well. I think at our best we could have won the game. Maybe Nuno would say the same.”