Oliver Glasner: Crystal Palace boss tells fans 'I am not David Copperfield'
- Published
'I'm no magician' - new Crystal Palace boss Glasner
New Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has told the club's fans he is not a "magician".
The Austrian, 49, replaced Roy Hodgson as Palace boss on Monday and watched from the stands as the Eagles drew 1-1 at Everton that evening.
Palace are now 15th in the Premier League - five points above the relegation zone - after 10 defeats in their past 17 league games.
"I'm no magician, I am not David Copperfield," said Glasner.
"It's important we work together to reach our vision."
Hodgson's coaches Ray Lewington and Paddy McCarthy were in the dugout at Goodison Park, so the first game in charge for Glasner, who has signed a contract until June 2026, will be Saturday's home game against second-bottom Burnley (15:00 GMT).
"The players are listening and are great characters. We have had more meetings than training sessions on the pitch, but the important thing is the game tomorrow and to get the three points at Selhurst Park," added the former Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt boss.
"The short-term goal is to get ourselves - myself and my staff - known.
"We can see what happens in the future but I am a guy who lives in the present, working with this squad and preparing them to play games."
Supporters unfurled a banner that read "No shared vision, no structured plan" during Palace's 4-1 defeat against rivals Brighton on 3 February.
The protests, aimed at owner Steve Parish, came before Hodgson's decision to step down.
"When you have bad points, you need support, and I'm sure the fans will support the team immediately in this next game," said Glasner.
"I really am convinced that they will be supporting us until the end of the season."
Palace's 'bold appointment' - analysis
BBC Sport's Alex Howell
Crystal Palace have made a bold appointment, and Oliver Glasner is taking on a significant challenge. For the first time in his career, the Austrian has taken charge of a team in mid-season.
But it's a challenge he feels he is up to. At his first media conference since taking the job, Glasner said he would not be sitting in the Crystal Palace manager's chair "if he thought we were going to get relegated".
Managing in England for the first time, Glasner has sought out advice on what to expect in the Premier League. He mentioned that he has spoken Ralf Rangnick, the former Manchester United interim manager, who he knows from his time working in the Red Bull group.
More than once at the media conference, Glasner said that he is "not a magician". He indicated that it will take a while before English football sees what a true team of his looks like.
The suggestion that we won't see the best of Palace straight away under the new man is a fair one. Although his appointment has given the club a lift, he is still without Michael Olise, Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze and Cheick Doucoure although he said Eze should be back next week.
Palace have won just four of their last 19 Premier League matches, and need good results quickly. A home game against 19th-placed Burnley offers an opportunity to start the ball rolling. But whatever happens this weekend, this is an appointment that Palace have made for the long term.
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