“This job is a privilege for which I am grateful”

At the beginning of this week, the English Premier League club Crystal Palace from London began preparations for the 2024/2025 season under “Innviertel management”. Michael Angerschmid from Eitzing has been the right-hand man of the successful Ried coach Oliver Glasner as assistant coach for nine years. The two have known each other since their youth and played together for many years at SV Ried. The OÖN met Michael Angerschmid (50) for a detailed interview shortly before the flight to London.

OÖN: How was your holiday, are your batteries recharged?

Michael Angerschmidt: The batteries are fully charged again. I was at home in Eitzing, where I had a few things to do around the house and of course met friends and relatives. My wife and I also went on a motorboat trip in Croatia, and then we spent a few days in Italy.

Almost exactly a year ago, we talked about leaving Frankfurt, which wasn’t easy for you. How well have you settled into life in London since taking office in February?

Very good, the club made it very easy for the coaching team to settle in. Even though we play in the Premier League, the biggest league in the world, everything is very family-like. We have been and will continue to be helped wherever possible.

How do you live in London?

I really can’t complain (laughs). At the beginning I was staying in a hotel for a few weeks. Then I found a really great apartment. Right on the Thames, the view from the 50th floor is sensational. From there I take public transport for around 40 minutes to the training center, which is south of London.

Do you have a car?

No, not in London, I don’t need one. Public transport is very well developed. London is so big. There are one or two players who need almost two hours to get to the training ground by car. We also travel to many away games by train. We have our own compartment there, which works perfectly.

What does everyday life look like at Crystal Palace’s training centre?

I usually leave shortly before eight o’clock so that I can be at the training center by 8.45 a.m. We have a quick breakfast there, and then we usually watch videos of the next opponent. At 10 a.m. there is always a big meeting with the coaching team and all the medical staff so that we are always up to date with the players’ health and fitness. Training usually starts at 11 a.m., and after lunch we spend a lot of time on tactical matters.

The team has solidified itself relatively quickly since Oliver Glasner and his coaching team took office. In the last seven games of the season, they have won six games and drawn one. What do you think are the reasons for this improvement in performance?

In general, we work harder and more aggressively against the ball and defend higher. In training, we have gradually increased the intensity. In my opinion, a spontaneous week-long training camp in Marbella was very important. We were also lucky that some important injured players returned. And with every victory, confidence increases; the mental component is important for every team.

What are the biggest differences in everyday life between London and Frankfurt?

Of course, I had a lot more personal contacts in Frankfurt. For example, when I think of the weekly market on Thursdays, people knew each other, said hello and drank a glass of cider. That doesn’t happen in London at all; the city is far too big for that. But this anonymity certainly has its advantages, especially for Oliver Glasner: it does happen that we go to a pub for a beer after an away game. We sit inside in our tracksuits, but we don’t stand out.

We are sitting in your garden in Eitzing. What is it like to live between two completely opposite worlds. Eitzing here, on the other side the global metropolis of London and a Premier League club?

It’s exciting. In London, everything is running 24 hours a day. This city never sleeps. In rush hour, you’re lucky if you can squeeze into the subway. But it’s also interesting, there are so many things to do. Concerts, museums or sights, you can always experience something new. At home, of course, I appreciate the peace and quiet even more. I’m happy that my wife Karin will soon be spending more time in London.

How was the transition to English in everyday life?

I’m not an English professor yet. I got used to the English language relatively quickly. If you can’t think of a word, you can usually explain it, which works quite well. When the players talk to each other with their accents, it’s sometimes difficult to understand. In any case, you lose the fear of having to speak English again after more than 30 years relatively quickly because it’s just part of everyday life.

What does preparation look like with Crystal Palace? The season starts on August 18th with the game against Brentford.

We started on Monday and training started on Tuesday. At the end of July we will fly to the USA, where we will play training games against West Ham United and Wolverhampten near Washington. These trips to the USA are part of the marketing strategy, but we have very good conditions there and it also brings variety to the preparation phase.

In the summer, Oliver Glasner and the coaching team will prepare the team intensively for the first time. What do you think Crystal Palace can expect in the 2024/2025 season?

The aim is to reach a single-digit position in the table. Much depends, of course, on what happens in the transfer window. Michael Olise is moving to Bayern Munich. There is also a lot of interest in Eberechi Eze. The question is how adequately these players can be replaced.

Europa League winners with Frankfurt, now in the biggest football league in the world. Isn’t there a danger of losing touch with reality?

No, not at all. I don’t know how it is for other people. For example, when I’m lying at home in front of the TV, I always think to myself what a great privilege this job is and what I’m grateful for. Millions of football fans sit in front of the TV and in the stadiums every weekend and I get to be right in the middle of it all week after week instead of just being there. It’s actually crazy.

How big are your ambitions to work as a head coach again at some point?

There are always one or two inquiries, but my answer is currently very clear: I feel very comfortable in my role as Oliver Glasner’s assistant coach and am excited to see where the road will take us.

info By clicking on the icon you add the keyword to your topics.

info
By clicking on the icon you open your “my topics” page. You have of 15 keywords saved and would have to remove keywords.

info By clicking on the icon you remove the keyword from your topics.

Add the topic to your topics.