Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports
Topics: Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Premier League
Daniel Marland
Topics: Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Premier League
Michael Olise's stunning free-kick earned Crystal Palace a 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Wednesday evening - but he didn't celebrate.
The 21-year-old whipped a lovely set piece past David de Gea in the 91st minute to deny Erik ten Hag's side the chance to move into second.
Bruno Fernandes had opened the scoring for United in the first half and they looked like seeing the game out.
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Despite rescuing a point at the death with his second goal of the season, Olise walked away as cool as you like as Selhurst Park erupted into a frenzy.
Olise proved earlier this year he's not your typical football. After scoring against West Ham United, he gave the bluntest interview ever to Palace TV.
Refusing to celebrate goals is next-level, though. Managing to score against one of the biggest clubs in the world should generate some kind of emotion.
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According to former Reading teammate Michael Morrison, it's something Olise has always done. He sat down with The Athletic shortly after Olise's £8 million move to Palace in 2021 to offer some insight into the France youth international.
Morrison said: "We’d say he’s a bit weird sometimes because when he scored goals, he sometimes wouldn’t celebrate.
"We’d be like, ‘Mike, you’ve just scored an important goal and you’re just walking back?’. What’s he doing?
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"Then he’d play two-touch with the manager (Veljko Paunovic) in the gym, he’d win a point in that, and he’d be shouting and celebrating, but on a Saturday, he’d score a goal in front of the home end and just stand there.
"We never really worked out why. He could never give us an answer but he’s just different; a special player."
There's no denying Palace have an incredible talent on their hands. The Eagles have taken points from United three seasons in a row at home and currently sit 12th in the table.
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A draw to United is a bitter blow given their strong form since returning from the World Cup break. They face Arsenal on Sunday but will do so without Casemiro in midfield.
The Brazil international received his fifth booking of the campaign with 10 minutes to go after cynically hauling down Wilfried Zaha on the counter.
Ten Hag was visibly frustrated on the touchline, shaking his head as Casemiro was cautioned.