Glasner on Guessand injury, Mateta's fitness and Fiorentina

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Conference League quarter-final second leg against Fiorentina at Artemio Franchi Stadium (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Evann Guessand is unavailable through a knee injury and is expected to be out for "a few weeks".
• Glasner added: "It's always a bad situation if we miss a player, and Evann did really well. He scored some goals and he assisted. But I think we showed, especially against Newcastle, we can replace him. And also against Fiorentina when he had to come off, Yeremy Pino had a great impact on the game. We have a better depth in the squad than we had in autumn, so that's why I think we can replace him, but of course it's a situation we don't really like."
• Striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is nearly back at full fitness after scoring a brace against Newcastle last weekend: "I'm pleased to have him back and closer to his best fitness. He's not 100 percent but he's coming closer and closer. He said 'I will work very hard to be fit and help the team to achieve their goals' and this is what he has done from day number one. Everyone at Crystal Palace likes him because he is such a lovely person, a funny person, always joking and smiling and bringing a good mood to the dressing room."
• Palace take a 3-0 lead into this second leg but Glasner said he wants his side's approach to game the same, adding: "We are here to win the game, we are not here to defend anything, we are here to win".
• When asked about the difference between Premier League and Serie A football, the Palace boss responded: "I don't watch many Italian games but for some teams it's always [about] having a very compact block and then waiting and also playing very quick forward. Whereas in England, it's sometimes more up and down, more aggressive. In Italy, it's more pressing man-to-man when they press very high. It's a good style to get pressure very high but it can make you vulnerable at the back of your defence."
• He continued: "We have to prove that there is a gap between the Premier League and Serie A because one swallow doesn't make a summer. We need a second swallow tomorrow!"
• On facing Fiorentina away from home: "Like always in Italy, I think it's a very emotional atmosphere and the Fiorentina fans will support their team. But there will be 1,400 Palace fans here loud and supporting us, and that's why I'm expecting a great European night."
• He added: "I don't expect Fiorentina to change much to be honest, because when you have a certain style of playing, you can't change it in three days. Fiorentina have been very successful in Serie A, they are unbeaten in six games now, it's difficult to create chances against them. Usually they don't have very high-scoring games in Serie A, so I was surprised we were able to score three goals and create four or five [chances]."

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[BBC]