UEFA Conference League LIVE: Crystal Palace vs KuPS – live text updates, team news, stats & head-to-head
Glasner fields two entirely different teams for next matchespublished at 19:13 GMT
Crystal Palace v KuPS (20:00 GMT)
Image source, Getty Images
So, as we’ve seen, Oliver Glasner has fielded a youthful, inexperienced side tonight with the back-up of first team players on the bench should they be required.
The Crystal Palace manager said it had to be done to protect player welfare, saying it would be “irresponsible” to play the same team twice in three days.
“No player will start against [both] KuPS and Leeds,” said Glasner. “I and we all feel responsible for the players’ welfare.
“I just spoke to Will [Hughes] and he experienced it a few years ago – when it was on Boxing Day [26 December] and the 28th [December], sometimes there were games, and he played it – but I just think now the intensity of the game has increased.
“Maybe you can do it once, but it’s our 27th game now [this season], and we have to think further, because we play on the 18, 20, 23 and 28 [December], and 1, 4, 7 and 10 January. Therefore, it’s just irresponsible if we do this.
“We will start with two completely different teams, but of course the minutes will be shared a little bit if this is possible.
“I always want to play the best team from the first until the last minute, but this game demands this from us, so that is why we will do it.”
