Oliver Glasner is unhappy about Crystal Palace's festive schedule, which could include four games in eight days, finishing with a trip to Leeds United
Nathan Ridley and Matt C Jones
12:09, 01 Nov 2025
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Daniel Farke of Leeds United during a training session at Thorp Arch Training Ground on October 30, 2025 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Malcolm Bryce/Leeds United via Getty Images)
Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner has lashed out at football’s schedule-makers as his team face a potential run of four games in eight days - including a clash with Leeds United.
After their FA Cup triumph last season, the Eagles are back in European competition. In addition to their UEFA Conference League commitments, they have also progressed to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after a 3-0 win over Liverpool on Wednesday.
It means there are extra fixtures for the team to squeeze in during what is always a packed part of the calendar for the Premier League. And speaking ahead of his team’s match with Brentford on Saturday, Glasner gave a blunt assessment of the the situation.
"I can't believe this won't be fixed," Glasner said. "It would be irresponsible for the players and we have a responsibility for them and we have to look after their welfare, but not just ours at the club.
”I was really upset when I heard it for the first time yesterday. I couldn't even believe that they were considering this.”
Palace are scheduled to play Manchester City on Sunday, December 14, a Conference League match against KuPS on 18 December, and then Leeds on December 21.
But Arsenal, Palace's quarter-final opponents, want the tie at the Emirates to be played on Tuesday, December 16. Should Arsenal get their way, Palace would be forced to play two games in three days, three in five, four in eight or five in 11.
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The EFL, who organise the Carabao Cup, narrowly avoided a similar nightmare last season. Due to the Conference League now being played over 10 weeks instead of six, Chelsea would've been in the same predicament had they not lost to Newcastle in the fourth round in October 2024.
Unfortunately for Arsenal and Palace, it's unlikely that a solution would please everyone. If the tie was moved to Tuesday, December 23, both teams would have just over 48 hours to recover from their Premier League games on the previous Sunday.
"I'm really upset but I spoke about this issue three months ago when I looked at the schedule, in the summer, the off-season," Glasner continued. "There are people who work on this and I would really like it if they talked together.”
Leeds could ultimately potentially benefit if Palace are jaded from this brutal run of games. They take on Brentford eight days before the scheduled match at Elland Road and then have a week-long break before their next fixture against Sunderland on December 28.
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