Hats off to Coach Glasner

Coach Oliver Glasner writes history for Crystal Palace.

Before the game, Glasner claimed he had warned Pep Guardiola that Manchester City would struggle if they did not change their system. "After Palace's 4-2 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad (on April 6), I told Pep that if we met again, he could not use that tactic because I would find a way to counter it," the Palace manager said.

How confident or really good do you have to be to say that to Pep Guardiola, one of the world's greatest managers? The warning was borne out on the pitch, as Palace outplayed Manchester City tactically in the FA Cup final.

Talent

The win adds to Glasner's impressive track record, which includes winning the UEFA Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022 and leading the club to both the Champions League knockout stages and the DFB-Pokal final in his second season there.

A 1-0 win in the FA Cup final gave Palace their first major trophy, marking a milestone in the career of manager Glasner, who proved that clever tactics can trump financial might and reputation.

At Wembley, a powerful Manchester City struggled against a disciplined, compact and high-pressing Palace side. Glasner knew that to counter Guardiola's possession-based philosophy, Palace needed to disrupt their opponents' rhythm of possession.

By pressing from the back, Palace forced Manchester City into mistakes, especially in building from the back, a weakness that Glasner exploited.

The only goal of the game came from Eberechi Eze, a player Glasner redefined in his system. Eze is not only a creative attacking midfielder but also a key part of pressing and winning possession.

His goal, from a pass from Daniel Muñoz, was the result of a quick counter-attack that Glasner had worked hard for. Palace's defence, under Glasner's direction, also played an excellent game.

Guardiola, renowned for his adaptability, seemed caught off guard by Palace's flexibility and determination. Over the past two months, Glasner's Palace have been one of the most feared teams in England.

They beat Tottenham, Aston Villa, Brighton, and drew with Forest and Arsenal. With this achievement, Glasner wrote history for Palace and affirmed his position on the world football map.

Oliver Glasner brother 1

Glasner beat Pep convincingly.

beyond limits

To many football fans, Glasner is just an unknown name. The coach born in 1974 in Salzburg (Austria) is far less famous than Pep, the man who reshaped modern football.

Glasner was a defender, with his playing career mainly spent with SV Ried. It was not until 2014, at the age of 40, that he took charge of SV Ried, where he helped the club achieve notable results, but the big turning point in his career came when he moved to Wolfsburg in 2019.

Here, Glasner led the team to fourth place in the Bundesliga, thereby helping Wolfsburg to be present in the Champions League in the 2020/21 season. However, he left Wolfsburg in 2021 due to internal conflicts.

Glasner's greatest success came when he was in charge of Eintracht Frankfurt. In the 2021/22 season, he led Frankfurt to the UEFA Europa League title, defeating Rangers in the final. It was Frankfurt's first European title in 42 years and a testament to Glasner's tactical genius.

He went on to lead Frankfurt to the Champions League knockout stages and the DFB-Pokal final the following season, before leaving the club in 2023.

In February 2024, Glasner was appointed manager of Crystal Palace, a team struggling in the Premier League at the time. Under his leadership, Palace had an incredible transformation.

After 14 months, Palace made steady progress, quickly completing the relegation target and having a historic victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

This victory brought Palace their first major trophy in the club's history. Oliver Glasner, with his tactics, not only defeated Pep Guardiola but also conquered the football world.