Defender Helped Crystal Palace Advance in the Europa Conference League, Face Aston Villa This Weekend
Chris Richards played a crucial role in Crystal Palace's defensive display during Thursday's 0-0 draw at Fredrikstad, helping secure their passage to the UEFA Conference League group stage with a 1-0 aggregate victory. The USMNT defender was instrumental in what manager Oliver Glasner praised as an outstanding team performance on a difficult artificial pitch.
Richards expressed his pride in the achievement, telling Channel 5: "We've been defending really well. But they are a good team, and they threw everything at us. I'm glad we came away with the draw to advance." He acknowledged that while not every performance would be aesthetically pleasing, results remained paramount for Palace's European ambitions.
The American international had a notable chance to break the deadlock in the 10th minute when he met Borna Sosa's corner with a free header, but was unable to convert. Despite this missed opportunity, Richards remained composed throughout as Fredrikstad pressed for an equalizer that would have forced extra time.
Looking ahead to Sunday's Premier League clash at Villa Park against Aston Villa, Richards and Palace will aim to build on their European success. Currently sitting 14th with two points, they face a Villa side struggling in 17th position. Palace's unbeaten run of five matches provides confidence, although they'll need to rediscover their winning touch after drawing their last two fixtures.
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