LEIPZIG, Germany — United States defender Chris Richards remained an unused substitute as Crystal Palace triumphed over Rayo Vallecano in the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday.
Coach Glasner indicated on Tuesday that he would collaborate closely with the medical team regarding Richards and midfielder Adam Wharton’s availability. He emphasized that if either player was not fully fit or if any concerns persisted, they would not participate.
– Poch: ‘Amazing’ Reyna deserves USMNT WC spot
– USMNT’s roster is classic Pochettino — and it comes with big risks
While Wharton started the match, Richards was not considered fit enough to play the full 90 minutes following a late fitness assessment.
Jean-Philippe Mateta netted the only goal of the match in the 51st minute, securing Crystal Palace’s first European trophy.
Richards, who sustained ligament tears in his ankle just three weeks ahead of the World Cup, was included in Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man roster for the tournament, with ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle previously reporting that he would be fit to participate.
He picked up the injury against Brentford ten days ago and was unavailable for Palace’s final match, a defeat to Arsenal.
Pochettino stated that he would evaluate Richards’ fitness after the final to prepare for the World Cup, mentioning, “We don’t know; we’ll see tomorrow if he plays, and then we’ll decide. We want to assess the situation before making any decisions, as we have until one day before the World Cup to make changes.”
Having missed the 2022 World Cup due to a hamstring injury, Richards is now regarded as a crucial part of the USMNT’s defensive lineup as they gear up for their summer matches.