Palace manager Glasner admits Richards’ Conference League final status is ‘50-50’
Oliver Glasner confirms Chris Richards will miss the final Premier League fixture against Arsenal, with his availability for the European final hanging in the balance.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed that defender Chris Richards is in a “race against time” to recover from an ankle injury ahead of the UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano. The American international sustained the injury during a 2-2 draw with Brentford and was absent from training on Thursday morning.
Glasner stated that Richards will definitely miss Palace’s final Premier League match against Arsenal on Sunday. Regarding the upcoming European final on Wednesday, the manager described the defender’s availability as a “50-50” chance. While the ankle is stable, Glasner noted that significant swelling remains, requiring intensive treatment from sunrise till sunset to reduce the inflammation.
“I tore I think two ligaments in his ankle, fortunately we have I think four (ligaments) or something, so it’s stable but it’s quite swollen,” Glasner explained. He emphasised that Richards needs to return to the pitch to be available for selection, noting that the medical department is doing everything possible to facilitate a recovery.
In related developments, Glasner offered praise for former Palace player Eberechi Eze, who recently transferred to Arsenal. Eze was part of the squad that won the Premier League title on Tuesday, ending a 22-year wait for the championship. Glasner congratulated Arsenal, manager Mikel Arteta, and the entire staff on their achievement.
The Palace manager specifically commended Eze for his career move. “I think he’s taken the right decision to go to Arsenal and not to another club,” Glasner said. While Eze could potentially face his former club in the final, Richards’ participation remains uncertain as the club prepares for the decisive match.
