Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner believes Manchester United are a way more ‘impressive’ team thanks partially to the efforts of 1 summer signing.
United tackle Palace on Sunday seeking to bounce back after a dismal 1-0 defeat to 10-man Everton last Monday.
The Red Devils looked to have turned a corner in recent weeks but were brought crashing all the way down to earth by the Toffees and now travel to Selhurst Park – a ground they’ve not won at in over six years.
The Eagles eased to a 2-0 win at Old Trafford of their last meeting, but Glasner believes the opposition have improved greatly within the time since, in large due to their latest signings.
‘Yes, Ruben Amorim was already accountable for the team, but additionally their team modified, especially their attack, that’s what I’m talking about,’ the Austrian said in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
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‘They thought, “OK, we’d like more goals” after which they invested 200 million and buying three players up front and likewise players who can play very intense like Bryan Mbeumo.
‘For me, it’s impressive to see, and we compared it, and now I believe their work rate is far higher than it has been last 12 months, they usually get the reward.’
As mentioned, United restructured their attack last summer, bringing in Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Mbeumo – the latter of whom has been far the perfect addition.
The £71million forward has six goals and an assist in his first 13 games for the club and is well-placed so as to add to that tally on Sunday having recorded two goals and an assist in his last 4 games against Palace for Brentford.
But he won’t have much support, with Amorim revealing that when again Cunha and Sesko will miss out through injury.
Furthermore, the south London side have made their best begin to a Premier League season ever, currently fifth within the table, with only leaders Arsenal boasting a greater defensive record.
Glasner says his side have suffered no major injury blows, adding that Marc Guehi’s half-time substitution in Thursday’s Conference League defeat at Strasbourg was pre-planned.
‘Borna Sosa will miss this game again, but Will [Hughes] doesn’t look so bad, so we’re very hopeful that he’ll be within the matchday squad. All others are wonderful.
‘Marc was just planned before, because he couldn’t train for two-and-a-half weeks, he had the 90 minutes last week [against Wolves], and naturally he should play and he’ll play against Manchester United. That’s why we had to administer the minutes, so no issues with Marc.’
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