Head coach Andoni Iraola discussed striker Alexander Isak's form ahead of the Crystal Palace match. Iraola praised Isak, who scored his seventh goal of the campaign against Fenerbahce in the Champions League, calling him a "top goalscorer" and highlighting his technical cleanliness and ability to attack spaces. Iraola stated that putting Isak in a scoring position is "the closest thing to a guarantee."

The coach also addressed Bradley Barcola's role, confirming he is primarily a winger but was deployed as a central forward against Liverpool in the Champions League. Iraola views this as a tactical alternative, particularly when Isak is tired, and mentioned a similar experiment with Cody Gakpo against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup. He emphasized that while Barcola is mostly a winger, such alternatives are valuable.