Crystal Palace Coach Praises Chadi Riad: "He Was Always Positive Despite 18-Month Absence, Good to See Him Back With Us"

Oliver Glasner, coach of Crystal Palace, expressed his delight at the return of Moroccan defender Chadi Riad to the team's starting lineup. Riad played his first Premier League match as a starter since August 2024, against Nottingham Forest (1-1) last Sunday.

Chadi Riad's return comes after a lengthy absence of approximately a year and a half due to a severe anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. This injury significantly impacted his career before he gradually managed to return to competitive action.

Glasner stated in his post-match comments: "Chadi Riad is a really great person. It wasn't just one year, but almost a year and a half of absence. Nevertheless, he was always positive and worked incredibly hard."

The Crystal Palace coach added: "I personally suffered an ACL tear, and it usually takes the same amount of time as the injury to return to your best level, but I am confident that Chadi will achieve that in a shorter period."

Glasner concluded his statement: "He performed well in some moments, and it's really good to see him back with us."