Oliver Glasner insisted that taking off Jean-Philippe Mateta at half-time in Palace’s 5-2 defeat to Man City was not a mistake.
What Happened?
Jean-Philippe Mateta was substituted at half-time despite playing a part in Chris Richards’ goal that gave Crystal Palace a surprising 2-0 lead over Manchester City. However, City equalised through Kevin De Bruyne and Omar Marmoush before the break, after which Mateta was pulled from the game.
The Bigger Picture
Manager Oliver Glasner confirmed Mateta wasn’t injured. Instead, the decision was tactical, aimed at switching to a 3-5-2 formation. Glasner admitted the formation change was a mistake but stood by the call to substitute Mateta, citing disappointment with the striker’s first-half performance. The tactical shift backfired, and City dominated the second half, adding goals from Mateo Kovacic, James McAtee, and Nico O’Reilly to win 5-2.
What Glasner Said
Glasner explained: “It was a tactical decision. I now realise the mistake was changing to a 3-5-2, not subbing Mateta. He lost too many duels and possession. We needed a different approach, but the formation change didn’t work.”
Did You Know?
Before this match, Mateta had been in top form, scoring nine goals in his previous 10 Premier League appearances.
What’s Next for Palace?
Crystal Palace travel to Newcastle midweek. While their league season may lack major stakes, maintaining form and morale is key ahead of their FA Cup semi-final clash with Aston Villa on April 26.
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