Glasner says Palace board 'abandoned' team after Sunderland defeat

Oliver Glasner accused Crystal Palace’s board of “abandoning” his team after a 2-1 defeat at Sunderland, in a scathing post-match deconstruction. Glasner, who on Friday announced he will leave Selhurst Park at the end of the season, criticised the club’s handling of recent departures.

Glasner said his players extended a winless run to 10 games and that he felt “your heart gets torn out twice in a season,” referencing Eberechi Eze’s exit for Arsenal in August as well as the sale of Marc Guéhi to Manchester City. He said he had tried to protect his squad and that at times he sounded as if he was talking himself out of the remaining months of his contract.

He refused to make any substitutions after saying his bench contained “just kids” who had never played in a stadium with that atmosphere, adding “we feel that we’re being abandoned” and “I made no substitutions because it would have been unfair.” Glasner said the club sold Guéhi “one day before a game” and that the first he had heard of the move was “10.30am yesterday,” forcing last-minute changes to set-piece plans.

Glasner said he still believes relegation can be avoided — “I feel we will get these few more points we will need to not get relegated” — and that he will remain for the players and fans. He said he made his comments publicly to protect his squad and warned that if nothing changes “Crystal Palace, not Oliver Glasner will get the bill.” Asked whether he expected a response from the board, he said: “I don’t know.

Key Topics

Sports, Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace, Marc Guéhi, Sunderland, Eberechi Eze