🎧'Only one step from Wembley - why not?'
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North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Oliver Glasner: Eberechi Eze a Crystal Palace player, no one's told me otherwise
Amid reports of an imminent move, Eze was a surprise inclusion as Palace began their Premier League campaign with a goalless draw against a lacklustre Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. He looked to have delivered a potential parting gift to supporters with a brilliant first-half free-kick before VAR intervened controversially to disallow the goal. Referee Darren England initially allowed Eze's bullet finish after 15 minutes to stand, but a rarely-invoked rule stating an attacking player may not stand within a yard of the defensive wall at a free-kick meant the presence of Marc Guehi – another surprise starter amid interest from Liverpool – next to Moises Caicedo constituted a foul. Incredible noise all day long. Thank you, Palace fans ❤️💙 — Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 17, 2025 'We know the rule that you have to be one yard away from the wall,' said Glasner. 'At the beginning we were, maybe we stepped too early because you have to wait until the kicker kicks the ball. If this was the case then maybe it's right.' Palace have had talks with Tottenham over Eze and Arsenal are also reported to be keen to sign the midfielder, who scored the winner when the Eagles beat Manchester City to lift the FA Cup at Wembley in May, in light of which he was not expected to feature in west London. The 27-year-old's contract included a £68million release clause that expired on Friday, with neither Spurs nor Arsenal reportedly willing to go that high. 'As much as I know, Eze has a contract with Crystal Palace, he's a Crystal Palace player and he showed it today,' said Glasner. 'As long as he is a Palace player and performs like this he will play for us. Nobody has told me something else. 'He was picked because he's a Crystal Palace player and he's a very good player. He trained the whole week so there was no reason not to pick him. 'The players are giving their answer (to press speculation) week by week. Last week winning against Liverpool on penalties (in the Community Shield) and here against the club world champions. 'Don't always believe what you read, especially on the internet. And here it's the same. Who knows that this is the truth, what is written? You've got rumours, so many rumours.' After a truncated pre-season following victory in the Club World Cup, everything pointed to a Chelsea side lacking both preparation and rest as Glasner's men coped relative easily with a new-look yet disjointed attack. Playing 35 days after their win in the final against Paris St Germain, Enzo Maresca's team bore signs of mental fatigue, particularly in a first half low on creativity. Maresca's take on today's draw. 💬#CFC | #CHECRY — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 17, 2025 Marc Cucurella came close with a header that was cleared off the line, while on their league debuts for the club Liam Delap and 18-year-old Brazil international Estevao Willian also missed chances. However, Maresca was reluctant to blame limited pre-season preparations for a leggy display. 'I don't think so, because in the end we competed, we tried to win the game,' he said. 'We had some chances at the end with Estevao, with Andrey Santos. That showed probably we competed quite good. 'They (Palace) have played already seven or eight games, for us we played two friendly games where we tried to share minutes, so our first real game was today. '(Estevao) was very good, he showed personality. He has already showed that in training. No doubt that slowly, slowly he will be a very important player for this club.'
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Rico Lewis keen to stay at ‘dream club' Manchester City
The England international produced the assist for the opening goal as City began their quest for a seventh title in nine years by thrashing Wolves 4-0 at Molineux on Saturday. That came amid rumours linking the 20-year-old with a move to Nottingham Forest but, while manager Pep Guardiola has said more than once he would like to trim his squad, Lewis does not intend to depart. 34' ⚽️ Haaland37' ⚽️ Reijnders61' ⚽️ Haaland81' ⚽️ Cherki Highlights from our opening day win at Wolves in the @premierleague ✨ — Manchester City (@ManCity) August 16, 2025 The City academy graduate said: 'I've never, ever seen myself at a different club. I've always wanted to play for City. 'It's my dream club, and like you see (here), when I'm playing with the kind of players that I'm playing with, it brings out the best in me, so I'm so happy. 'Everyone wants assurance and security but, at the end of the day, it's on me to perform. It's on me to take the chances. After that, I can't blame myself. 'If I take my own chances, I do it. If I don't, then I have to work and get better.' After losing the title last season after four successive victories, City started the new campaign with a strong statement. Erling Haaland scored either side of a Tijjani Reijnders strike and substitute Rayan Cherki added a fourth late on. Reijnders also had a hand in both Haaland goals in a highly impressive Premier League debut. Lewis said: 'As much as we can we forget about last season, but obviously it's in the back of our minds and we could say it's fuelling the fire for us. 'There's always hunger but I think there could be additional hunger now that it's not our crown to defend. 'There's something that we're chasing. We're so focused on this season. We've already had the Club World Cup so we feel much stronger, together as a team, and I think that's the main thing, we feel like a unit.' James Trafford made a confident debut in the City goal after number one Ederson withdrew due to illness. He was beaten in the first half but Marshall Munetsi was clearly offside, while Wolves also went close when Jorgen Strand Larsen shot narrowly wide. Manager Vitor Pereira admitted the club need to bring in reinforcements before the transfer deadline. The Portuguese, who engineered an escape from relegation last season, said: 'Of course, we need more options to be stronger, more options with quality to improve our squad. 'Before the next game will be difficult but my expectation is that the club can bring three, four players with quality before the end of the market. 'This league is very tough and we need to add more quality.'
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi included in Crystal Palace side to face Chelsea
Reports had emerged on Saturday that Eze was set not to be involved at Stamford Bridge as talks continue with Tottenham over a move for the England midfielder. Palace captain Guehi also started for Oliver Glasner's side. The 25-year-old defender, who is in the final 12 months of his contract, has been linked with a move to Liverpool. The Palace. Your XI to take on Chelsea 🫡 — Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 17, 2025 Following Palace's victory over Liverpool in the Community Shield, Palace chairman Steve Parish admitted the speculation over Guehi's future 'needs a new contract or a conclusion of some kind.' Eze also played a crucial role as Palace won the FA Cup last season, beating Manchester City at Wembley. Palace boss Oliver Glasner played down reports a deal was close for either player to be leaving Selhurst Park. 'Marc (Guehi) and Ebs (Eze) trained well the whole week. Then of course there is no reason not to start him,' Glasner told Sky Sports ahead of kick-off at Stamford Bridge. '(So) good advice to all the children who are watching us now (in this interview) – don't believe everything you are reading in the newspapers.' Eze, 27, joined Palace in 2020 from QPR and has gone on to win 11 England caps. Spurs boss Thomas Frank is in need of creativity after chief playmaker James Maddison ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and with fellow midfielder Dejan Kulusevski also still sidelined. After a failed pursuit of Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White last month, Spurs have this week ramped up their transfer activity, opening talks with Manchester City on Monday over the signing of versatile attacker Savinho and now in discussions with Palace over Eze. Speaking after Tottenham's 3-0 win over Burnley on Saturday, Frank was asked specifically about Eze, but would not be drawn on the reports. 'I have that nice principle that I would like to speak about the players that are in-house, and all the other speculations I don't want to speak too much about that,' the Dane said.
