Oliver Glasner Newcastle United press conference – The highlights

The Oliver Glasner Newcastle United Press Conference has taken place.

The Crystal Palace boss speaking to the media ahead of Wednesday night’s match at Selhurst Park.

Palace looking to follow up consecutive wins (first time this season) in the Premier League at Liverpool and home to West Ham.

The Oliver Glasner Newcastle United Press Conference highlights:

Oliver Glasner on the 5-2 win over West Ham on Sunday:

“We analysed the game on Monday and showed the players some clips, what we did really well, but also making them aware that we have to be focused and concentrated all of the time.

“I think we defended very well, but we gave them, especially in the first-half, the goal and also the chance before, too easily, because maybe we didn’t have the focus on their set-plays, we felt too safe after having a 4-0 lead, but it’s important.

“We could see in the evening when Man United were 3-0 up [against Coventry] until the 70th minute, and then it was extra-time, so it’s always be focused and concentrated, and this was also a message.

“Of course we played really well, we showed many, many, positive things, and that’s what we want to do again, so we want to repeat it against Newcastle tomorrow evening.

“Always play your game, because it makes it much more fun playing like we did for most of the minutes against West Ham, when we controlled the ball, when we had possession, when we moved the ball quick, when we defended very aggressively, and made a lot of pressure. It makes much more fun than running after the ball and always running behind the opponent.

“This should be the goal: that we control the game when we are in possession, and that we control the game when we are out of possession, and this is always a focus of very hard work.

“We showed the players, because if you want to repeat something, it’s always good that you know what you have to do, and this is the process we are in, but I have a very good feeling.

“We had a very short but really good training session today, and the players look to be ready, quick legs. I had fun, enjoyed the training and this is what we want to see tomorrow.”

Oliver Glasner on the threat posed by Newcastle United:

“It’s always the same: try to get pressure on the ball, don’t give them the time, don’t give them the opportunity to make the runs in behind.

“[Alexander] Isak is always on the jump for running in behind.

“Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and then midfield, Sean Longstaff, make a lot of runs and are very dangerous, but to control it, we know what they want to do, and it’s again up to us to be ready, to be focused so that we are not surprised by what they do, so that we can anticipate what they are doing.

“But it’s as important what we are doing in our position, that we move the ball quick, that we create chances, that we force them to defend very well.

“Also as a team, that means when they have all the players back, it gives us a chance to create, but also be always in a good balance, that we shouldn’t give them transitions, because they have really quick players, so it will be a very demanding game, but it’s a good challenge and we are looking forward to it.”

Oliver Glasner asked about the ridiculous number of injuries Newcastle United have suffered with this season:

“They’re fighting for the European places in the league, so they need to be in the top six in the Premier League.

“Of course they suffered from injuries, and they played for the first time for many years in the Champions League, so you have this rhythm every three days.

“Also these highlight games, and it’s new for many players for them, and it’s not physically, I think, it’s also mentally – they have these highlight games. I experienced it with my team. It’s not that easy.

“When we speak about Liverpool, Man City, they have players who’ve played the Champions League every three days for ten years, so they are used to it, but for many Newcastle players it was new, and to find the balance.

“In the Premier League, every game is tough to win, and then they suffer from injuries, and maybe that’s the result. But again, they are top six in the Premier League, so I think they’ve played a good season.”

Oliver Glasner on recent controversies regarding VAR:

“Usually I’m a friend of VAR, because I think we have more right decisions.

“I’m a big friend of transparency, so I think what we all want is that we get clear decisions on the pitch, but if we have the opportunity to use the VAR, let’s use it. It’s a technical improvement we all decided to get, so if we have the opportunity let’s use it.

“Of course, it shouldn’t be every five minutes, but there are just a few situations where it can intervene, with the penalty, with the red card, when you score a goal, or offside, so it’s just four cases where the VAR is allowed to intervene.

“I’m a friend of it, but I don’t want to judge what happened at Everton, because we had our game against West Ham, so this is our topic.”

Oliver Glasner on whether he anticipated Crystal Palace’s recent improved results:

“Yes, because we always saw the quality of the players, we always saw – [albeit] not before we arrived – the character of the players.

“As soon as we arrived from the first day, we could see their good working mentality, their attitude. Many injured players are back. I don’t think that they are at their top level. It can’t work – so if you’re out for two, three, four months, you can’t be at your top level after two weeks – but it’s important to have the players back.”