Crystal Palace considers sacking Oliver Glasner after public criticism
Crystal Palace are weighing up whether to dismiss manager Oliver Glasner following his extraordinary public attack on the club’s hierarchy, reports BritPanorama.
Sky Sports News indicates that chairman Steve Parish was left bewildered and furious by the Austrian’s remarks after Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Sunderland. Glasner openly criticized the board, stating, “We feel like we’re being abandoned completely.”
This incident unfolds against the backdrop of Glasner’s prior announcement on Friday that he would depart Selhurst Park upon the conclusion of his contract this summer. Parish now faces a decision on whether to let Glasner finish the remaining four months of his tenure or terminate his employment immediately.
The imminent transfer of captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City appears to represent the breaking point in an increasingly fractured relationship between manager and chairman. Glasner expressed his dissatisfaction with the timing of Guehi’s sale, saying, “Selling our captain one day before a game – there is no understanding for this.”
Despite the heightened tensions, the club maintains that it was compelled to proceed with the sale rather than risk forfeiting £20 million should the defender leave on a free transfer at season’s end. Palace insists they have worked to honour Glasner’s preferences during the previous transfer window, withdrawing from a last-minute deal with Liverpool that would have sent Guehi there.
From Parish’s perspective, each decision reflects what he believes is in the best interest of the club’s long-term stability and future. Glasner, meanwhile, opted against making any substitutions during the defeat, citing a lack of available players on the bench. He remarked, “The players gave everything they could. We made no substitutions – look at the bench, there are just kids there.”
The defeat extended Palace’s winless streak to ten matches across all competitions, adding pressure on Glasner amidst concerns about squad depth. He highlighted that the team has been operating with merely 12 or 13 players for weeks, with some already hitting the 35-game mark this season. “For 50 or 60 minutes, we played well here and for 15 or 20 minutes, we were under pressure and conceded the goal,” he explained.
Glasner underscored his need to voice concerns publicly, framing his outburst as an effort to protect his squad. He pointed out the departure of key players since his arrival, including Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Joachim Andersen, and now Guehi. “It’s maybe the last try that things get done that have to get done. Not for Oliver Glasner, it’s for Crystal Palace,” he stated.
When asked about the possibility of remaining until the end of the season, Glasner remained resolute: “I will never step back because these players deserve Oliver Glasner as their manager and leader.”
In the world of football management, it’s a delicate balance. How club hierarchies navigate their internal conflicts often defines their path forward, for better or worse.
