Oliver Glasner believes Jean-Philippe Mateta can make a critical contribution as Crystal Palace fight to keep their Conference League campaign alive.
Glasner backs Mateta to make big impact
The France striker returned from a six-week absence on Thursday night, replacing Jorgen Strand Larsen and playing the final 13 minutes of the Eagles’ frustrating goalless last-16 draw with Cypriot side AEK Larnaca.
Palace host Leeds in the Premier League on Sunday before travelling to Cyprus for their last match before the international break.
Eagles boss Glasner said: “It’s the plan now to get him back, and also giving him a few minutes back, and then we have three weeks.
“Of course I wish for him to be called up by France, but I can’t see it right now because he was injured for a long time, and then use these three weeks to get him into a better shape, into a better rhythm.
“Hopefully, we are then qualified for the quarter-final. But respect for Larnaca, it will be a tricky gameas well there, and then having JP in a better shape than he is now, and helping us maybe for 30 minutes, 45 or even 60 minutes.”
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The Eagles and their rivals are both keen on him.
Glasner is hopeful midfielder Cheick Doucoure might return before the end of the season after a 14-month absence, and expects to have Christantus Uche – who impressed his boss in Palace’s Tottenham victory – back at his disposal on Sunday.
“We need this now,” added Glasner. “We have more players available and that should help us.”
Leeds meanwhile are sweating over the fitness of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The former Everton man faces a fitness test after missing Leeds’ FA Cup win over Norwich with a knee issue but manager Daniel Farke is “carefully optimistic” he will feature.
Crystal Palace lining up move for Getafe manager
Getafe manager José Bordalás has downplayed talk of his future this week, but Crystal Palace are very much interested in the 62 year-old as they search for Glasner’s replacement, Football FanCast sources understand.
“I don’t look to the future; I look to the present. I’m focused solely and exclusively on the match at the Metropolitano and on the team,” he said ahead of his side’s defeat against Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
“I’m not worried about my future. Atlético is a team that always improves when it rotates its squad because the players on the bench are of the same level or even better.”
However, sources understand he is right at the top of the Eagles’ shortlist and would consider a move to England if given the financial backing to mould the team in his image.
Bordalás has been labelled the “anti football specialist” by the Spanish media for his ability to stifle the big teams, and while his style is not always pretty, it has been likened to Saturday’s opponent Diego Simeone for the “us vs the world” connection forged between players and fans.
While their overall record against Spain’s big three is uninspiring, Getafe have not lost at home to Barcelona since 2019, took three points off Atletico last season and recently beat Real Madrid 1-0 at the Bernabéu.