Oliver Glasner: Team spirit the “foundation” of Crystal Palace’s rise

Crystal Palace’s resurgence under Oliver Glasner has been one of the most compelling stories in English football over the past 18 months. After steering the Eagles to safety in 2024, the Austrian coach masterminded an FA Cup triumph and Community Shield victory last season, delivering the club’s first-ever major honours and a return to European football.

While Glasner’s tactical system has drawn widespread praise, the manager himself insists the secret lies elsewhere. In an interview with SportBILD, he was keen to stress that the “foundation” of Palace’s transformation is rooted in unity and spirit.

“The foundation of our success is our team spirit,” Glasner explained. “With the exception of Eze, the 15 players with the most playing time have stayed. With us, everyone knows what they have to do. That’s how you start a season on a different level.”

Palace had gone on a 19-match unbeaten run in all competitions – the longest across Europe until it ended last weekend – and remain firmly in the top half of the Premier League. Glasner’s emphasis on continuity, with a core squad that has developed consistency and understanding, has been key to sustaining that momentum.

This shared identity has allowed Palace to compete with bigger-budget rivals, while instilling confidence across the squad.

Beyond the collective, Glasner was eager to highlight Jean-Philippe Mateta as the embodiment of this ethos. Once labelled “the league’s biggest scoundrel” during his Bundesliga days, the French striker has reinvented himself at Selhurst Park.

Under Glasner, Mateta has scored 34 goals in 71 appearances – the most prolific spell of his career – earning him a call-up to Didier Deschamps’ France squad.

“JP is one of the most professional players there is,” Glasner said. “He’s the first one here every day. He does everything he can for himself in communicating with the assistant coaches and support staff. And he’s an incredibly positive guy, which is simply needed.”

Such dedication has been central to Palace’s progress, with Mateta’s consistency giving the Eagles a reliable cutting edge in both domestic and European competition.

FootballPlace analyst John William believes Glasner has found the perfect balance:

“Palace’s story isn’t just about tactical tweaks – it’s about building an environment where players feel secure, valued, and driven. Glasner’s faith in a settled group has delivered stability, while individuals like Mateta show how professionalism can elevate performance. If Palace continue on this path, European qualification could become a regular reality rather than a one-off.”

With Palace sitting in the top six and competing in Europe, the challenge is to maintain momentum as fixture congestion increases. Glasner’s reliance on continuity will be tested by squad rotation demands, but the collective bond he champions gives the Eagles a strong platform.

For Mateta, maintaining form in both the Premier League and Conference League could cement his place in the France setup ahead of Euro 2026. His evolution from inconsistent Bundesliga forward to trusted Palace talisman is already one of the success stories of Glasner’s tenure.

👉 Can Oliver Glasner turn Crystal Palace’s team spirit into sustained European success?