Oliver Glasner significantly improved Crystal Palace in his 13 games as manager last season, but the summer has seen key players linked with moves away, including Michael Olise’s departure to Bayern Munich.
Crystal Palace’s opening match against Brentford will be broadcast live on Sky Sports this Sunday.
Under Glasner, Palace’s performances at Selhurst Park became electrifying, with fans fully engaged.
This was a welcome change from the earlier part of the season under Roy Hodgson, where the team struggled and lacked creativity despite having talented young players.
Glasner’s impact was notable, with Palace going unbeaten in their last seven games, including wins against top teams.
His 13-game tenure saw improved attacking stats and fewer goals conceded compared to the previous 25 matches.
Jean-Philippe Mateta particularly benefited from Glasner’s arrival, scoring more goals in 13 games than under previous managers and continuing his form into the Olympics.
However, the summer has brought challenges, with Olise leaving and other key players like Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi linked with moves.
Glasner now faces the task of replacing these players and maintaining the team’s momentum.
Despite these challenges, there’s cautious optimism among fans.
Palace has made some new signings and is linked with more, including potentially bringing back Wilfried Zaha.
The club’s strategy of developing young talent, as seen with Adam Wharton, continues.
The upcoming season will be crucial for Glasner to prove he can adapt to the Premier League long-term and push Palace further.
Avoiding relegation is a must, with cup runs being a realistic aim.
The opening match against Brentford will provide the first real test of the new season.