Crystal Palace are still looking for a new head coach but Klaus Schmidt has rubbished claims that he could be on his way to the Premier League once Roy Hodgson’s short-term deal expires.
In just a few short weeks back at Selhurst Park, Hodgson has breathed fresh life into a team which appeared to have had all the creativity and the confidence asphyxiated out of them during the final months of the Patrick Vieira era.
Survival is assured. The goals are flowing. The football is as entertaining as at any point in Palace’s recent history.
And a young, hungry, technically-gifted crop of players including Ebere Eze, Michael Olise and Cheick Doucoure should have any prospective new manager drooling at the mouth, the possibilities – with further investment – not endless per se but certainly intriguing.
Adi Hutter is now taking over at CrystaL Palace
Reports from Austria had suggested that Adi Hutter was set to take over in the summer. The former Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Monchengladbach coach would have allegedly looked to bring in 55-year-old Schmidt as part of his coaching staff too.
But, after Palace owner Steve Parish distanced Hutter from the post, Schmidt has done the same.
“It takes a lot of substance to justify (the rumours),” Schmidt tells Sky Austria, via 90Minuten.
“I had thirty congratulation messages on WhatsApp! Everyone was wondering what I was doing in the Premier League, and it was absolute fake news.”
The well-travelled Schmidt is currently in charge of SC Rheindorf Altach in the Austrian Bundesliga. Hard at work attempting to save his current employers from relegation.
With those Hutter rumours now dispelled, Crystal Palace are reportedly holding exploratory talks with Feyenoord boss Arne Slot.
Slot has Feyenoord on the verge of a first Eredivisie title in six years. His free-scoring side have plundered over 100 goals in all competitions across 2022/23; Slot’s free-flowing system drawing comparisons to Erik ten Hag and Pep Guardiola.
Lille boss Paulo Fonseca is another potential candidate for the Crystal Palace post.
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