Late Guehi goal seals Palace win against Fulham
Fourth place, a talented squad, and a top-class boss - this is Crystal Palace's most impressive Premier League campaign ever.
Sunday's 2-1 triumph at Fulham, sealed by Marc Guehi's late goal, lifted Crystal Palace into the coveted Champions League places.
Their haul of 26 points from the opening 15 matches represents their highest-ever tally at this stage of a Premier League season, marking them as genuine contenders for Europe's premier competition next year.
After netting the first goal on his milestone 50th appearance, Eddie Nketiah claimed "the sky is the limit" for this in-form side, a sentiment echoed by manager Oliver Glasner's commendation.
"It was a monumental team performance, and I'm incredibly proud of every player, he said. "Our standing is a direct result of that."
Yet, this praise follows closely on the heels of Glasner's frank critique of the club's lack of summer spending after a defeat to Manchester United.
Amidst the manager's impending contract expiry and doubts over the futures of stars like Guehi and Adam Wharton, worries linger behind the scenes.
Will the club's hierarchy manage to keep hold of the transformative manager? Furthermore, is this squad capable of maintaining its form to create a legendary campaign?
'An Unprecedented Managerial Era'
Oliver Glasner took charge at Palace in February 2024, building on successful tenures at Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt.
His tenure has seen record-breaking league points hauls and the landmark achievement of an FA Cup triumph.
That cup win led to a debut in European competition—albeit in the Europa Conference League due to regulations—and was followed by a Community Shield victory over champions Liverpool.
A prominent pundit remarked: "This is undoubtedly the greatest manager and squad in the history of Crystal Palace. Those supporters could not have imagined what would happen to their football club when that man arrived."
The home ground had been an impenetrable stronghold this league season until a recent loss ended that run.
When playing away from home, their record is perhaps even more noteworthy.
From the start of his reign, only a handful of elite clubs have collected more away points than Palace.
However, a recent defeat led to pointed comments from the manager regarding a lack of squad investment following a big-money departure.
His team has lost all league matches played after midweek European fixtures this season, highlighting issues with squad depth and schedule management.
Glasner pointedly stated the club had "missed" the opportunity for an even better season by not spending. A pundit noted: "He is forthright in his criticism after poor results... The board likely has to tolerate it given his monumental status at the club."
'Squad Not Big Enough' to Handle the Demands
The manager's driving ambition is unmistakable.
He evidently feels the squad's size is a constraint, and his public remarks could be a catalyst for winter signings.
The impending end of his deal means the club must swiftly demonstrate a shared ambition to keep this project on track.
A former professional goalkeeper commented: "His contractual status is a key issue... Securing his signature is paramount given the phenomenal work he has done. His reaction to a defeat showed he feels unsupported. The board's actions in the near future will be crucial."
With Guehi's deal running down, intense transfer speculation is inevitable for the international defender.
The talented Adam Wharton is attracting significant attention from numerous suitors.
Important squad members will also be dreaming of competing at the highest European level.
"Insufficient depth prevents rotation and adds pressure in the league. A top-six finish, while amazing, is a fiercely contested target," the pundit added.
The team is simultaneously at its historic peak and on the verge of dispersal, which could jeopardize an otherwise spectacular year.
