Early Situation
Crystal Palace management faces an intense December period after advancing to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, and the club must navigate five fixtures within 11 days. Oliver Glasner’s side reached this congested stage after defeating Liverpool, and the success triggered a demanding run across domestic and European competitions.Fixture Congestion
Crystal Palace will visit Shelbourne on 11 December for the Conference League, and the club hosts Manchester City on 14 December in the Premier League. The team then travels to Arsenal for the Carabao Cup on 16 December, and the squad must host KuPS on 18 December in Europe before closing at Leeds United on 21 December in the league. The sequence results from overlapping commitments in multiple tournaments, and the situation leaves minimal recovery time.
Managerial Concerns
Oliver Glasner highlighted limited squad depth and pointed to Eddie Nketiah’s recent hamstring injury as a concern, and the manager expressed frustration over scheduling challenges. Glasner previously complained about fixture congestion during the FA Cup semi-final in May, and the coach claimed his appeals had not been heeded.Administrative Discussions
Crystal Palace and Arsenal continue talks with the EFL, and both clubs face logistical challenges caused by European and domestic calendars. Arsenal’s January Champions League obligations restrict flexibility, and the EFL must balance competition integrity with player welfare.