OLIVER GLASNER WARNS: FATIGUE MAY BRING "ROUGH PATCHES" AMID BUSY SCHEDULE
Crystal Palace earns a vital 1-0 win, kicking off eight games in 29 days. Oliver Glasner gives two days off to ensure players are rested for the busy schedule.
Crystal Palace's coach, Oliver Glasner, said that the team's busy schedule could lead to some rough patches in their play over the next few weeks.
Palace won against Burnley on Wednesday with a header from Daniel Munoz in the 44th minute. The team didn't play their usual smooth game.
They only got three shots on target as they moved up to fifth place in the Premier League, while Burnley, who are fighting to stay in the league, had 11 shots.
This win at Turf Moor is the first of eight games in 29 days, and Glasner said his team might need to get used to winning games even when they're not at their best.
He also said that the team would have Thursday and Friday off before their game against Fulham on Sunday. This will give them time to rest and be with their families. He even suggested they might have time to do some Christmas shopping.
Glasner noted that teams playing in international competitions sometimes struggle in their next games. Playing away isn't easy. Burnley is a good team with a very good coach.
They did everything they could to change the game. It wasn't as smooth, especially in the last part. When you play in Europe for the first time, as a team and as a club, you have to accept that it can be tough.
It's hard for me because I always want to improve, but I see that the players are trying to do what we practice and talk about.
Right now, they're not finding solutions as easily. When they're rested, they know what to do before they even get the ball. Now, they need a moment to figure things out. We have to accept this.
We're taking two days off because we won't be back in London until 3 a.m. They need to sleep and forget about football for a bit. Maybe they'll go buy some Christmas presents. We're really trying to support them as much as we can.
I know these players will give it their all on the field. It might not always be a great performance, but I trust them to give everything they have. That's why they deserved the win.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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