Oliver Glasner
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Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has voiced his discontent over the club’s recent player sales, which he believes have left his team “abandoned” and struggling for support. The comments came after Crystal Palace’s 2-1 draw against Sunderland, where the team initially took the lead through Yeremy Pino, only to be pegged back by goals from Sunderland’s Enzo Le Fee and Brian Brobbey.
Glasner said: “I think the players did well for 50/60 minutes. Played well, the game was quite even. Then had 15-20 minutes where we were under pressure. They took the lead and then we tried everything to get back into the game. I couldn’t support them from the bench, that’s how it feels now. I think the players left their heart on the pitch. Your heart gets torn out twice in a season [after the sale of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal] one day before a game. We feel that we’re being abandoned, with no support. We’ve been playing with 12-13 players for weeks now. On the bench, just kids who have never played in a stadium in an atmosphere like this. Then I see the players, everybody’s disappointed. So why I’m saying this, not to protect myself, I don’t care about me, but the players need to be protected because they’re leaving their heart out there. I made no substitution because it would have been unfair. That’s why we are where we are. This group of players would need support. That’s how it feels today.”
Glasner’s frustration was further compounded by the imminent sale of captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City, a decision he was only informed of at 10:30 am on the day before the match. This late notice disrupted the team’s preparations, forcing last-minute changes to their strategy.
Glasner said: “We’re selling our captain one day before a game. One day before a game, the first time I heard about it was 10.30am yesterday. All the set pieces, everything was prepared. We had to change everything. Nobody told us. So then I have to stand in front of the group and tell them, oh, the captain doesn’t play tomorrow. So then lifting the mood and again, I think they did well for all the circumstances. And when I see them, how hard they are working, that’s why I’m so direct today. Because I feel I have to protect them. I see them every single day. And that makes it so disappointing because it’s not so easy to play here. Many teams have experienced difficulty here and therefore I think for 50-60 minutes, the performance is really, really good.”
Despite the challenges, Glasner acknowledged the team’s efforts to adapt and find solutions during the game. He noted that the team made tactical adjustments at halftime, which helped them regain balance and impose their intentions on the match.
The situation at Crystal Palace highlights the ongoing challenges faced by clubs dealing with player sales and the impact on team dynamics. Glasner’s comments underscore the need for better communication and support to ensure the team’s stability and performance on the field.
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