Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner joked that the best birthday present he could receive would be a day where he didn’t have to talk about transfer deals.
Rumours continue to circulate about his team, with captain Marc Guehi set to move to Newcastle before Friday’s deadline, while Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has been linked with a move to Selhurst Park.
The Austrian, whose team progressed with a 4-0 win over Norwich in the second round of the Carabao Cup, is unlikely to be given a reprieve.
When asked if Guehi’s wave to the crowd as he left the field had any meaning, Glasner said: “Nice try.
“Tomorrow I turn 50 and I think I have one wish. And my wish would be that I don’t have to answer any questions about the transfer window, so you can decide whether to give me a present or not.”
“Today I put everything aside and all the players who played the game deserved it 100 percent. Oliver Glasner, and I didn’t think about the transfer window, I didn’t think about other players.
“They needed the support of all of us before and during the game, so I think it would be terrible if I focused on other players because they had to win the game.
“They did fantastic, especially the way we scored the goals. It’s almost midnight, I’m not thinking about the transfer window yet and I hope we get some good news tomorrow when we meet for training.”
The hosts started quickly and Daichi Kamada scored the first goal for the summer newcomer this season in the second minute.
After the break, the Japanese international then set up the first of two goals for Jean-Philippe Mateta. According to Glasner, his spectacular overhead kick was “perhaps a sign of confidence in the way he finishes.”
Eberechi Eze set up Mateta’s second goal and scored the decisive goal six minutes from time.
Glasner had to bring on Chris Richards for Chadi Riad after the defender had to leave the field in the 10th minute, probably due to a torn ligament in his knee, as Glasner suspected.
Three minutes later, Canaries head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup was forced to make a substitution of his own when Amankwah Forson went down in midfield after appearing to slip.
He needed air as he was treated on the field for some time before leaving the field, using his jersey as an improvised sling.
Thorup could not provide any definitive information, but revealed that Forson “looked a little better than expected.”
Norwich had chances and the result might have been different if Palace keeper Dean Henderson hadn’t made a few sharp saves.
Thorup was surprised by Glasner’s selection of such a strong team, which included Guehi, who would now be Cup-bound if he leaves this week.
He said: “Yes (I was surprised), but it was also good for us. I told the guys in the dressing room before the start: ‘It’s fantastic’.”
“It’s a good opportunity. If I had the choice between them playing with more reserves or with the Premier League team, if I can call it that, I would actually prefer to do what they did tonight.
“Then we’ll see what we’re about and what the next level is for us. I think it was a good test and I think we showed some positive signs, but everyone can also see that there are areas of the game where we’re not at that level yet.”
