Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has insisted he doesn’t care where they sit in the table, with his focus more on the long-term at Selhurst Park.
The Austrian has been speaking to Sport am Sonntag about his time in London so far, having arrived earlier this year to replace Roy Hodgson.
Glasner is only the second Austrian coach to manage in the Premier League behind Ralf Rangnick, whose unsuccessful spell at Manchester United is something Glasner will be hoping to avoid a repeat of.
He arrives in England with a solid reputation so far, particularly after his time at Eintracht Frankfurt, who he led to Europa League glory before leaving in June 2023.
His move to Crystal Palace hadn’t been planned until the summer, with the original idea being for him to replace Hodgson at the end of the season.
But the veteran’s health problems, and a series of disappointing results as well, led Crystal Palace to make the change and bring in Glasner early.
So far, he’s managed one win, two draws and two defeats in four games and a gap of eight points from 18th placed Luton means Crystal Palace are relatively comfortable for the time being.
Glasner insists he’s not looking at the table, with his focus on more important matters for the Eagles.
“I took my time to figure out what I wanted to do. I came to the conclusion that it is not the league that is important, but that the club is ambitious and has a goal of where the journey should go,” he said.
“To compete with the best, with the best players, best coaches, that was the challenge for me. Finding solutions even as a smaller team. Maybe it won’t work the first time, maybe the next.
“I live in the here and now and do what I enjoy and what drives me. It’s certainly not the biggest club in England, but it’s a traditional one with a small, fine stadium and enthusiastic fans.
“They are also proud to be one of ten clubs that have been in the first or second division for 45 years.
“I don’t care much about the table situation, if we take our steps, the points will come to stay in the league.”
