After a dramatic 24 hours as Crystal Palace lost 2-1 to Sunderland in the Premier League, Oliver Glasner has revealed that both he and captain Marc Guehi will be leaving the club.
The Austrian revealed the news during Friday’s pre-match press conference. Glasner will leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season, while Guehi is expected to join Manchester City soon and was absent from the trip to the Stadium of Light.
The situation enraged Glasner at full time, describing the team as “completely abandoned.” Crystal Palace were already thin in their squad and did not make any substitutions during the match.
And perhaps predictably, things didn’t improve for the Eagles. They lost a 1-0 lead and are now winless in 10 competitive matches since defeating Shelbourne in the Conference League on December 11th.
After two big mistakes from Jean-Philippe Mateta (along with his own transfer speculation), Crystal Palace took the lead with a goal from Elémy Pino. He also gave his team some late hope in last weekend’s shock FA Cup defeat to Macclesfield, but this time he stuck his foot into the middle of a defender and poked the ball past Robin Roofs.
Brian Brobbey scores the winning goal for Sunderland
However, Crystal Palace’s lead lasted just three minutes as Sunderland fought back. Nordi Mukiele sent a wonderful cross from the right, which Enzo Le Fe, who was free in the middle, slotted into the back of the goal.
The Eagles were supposed to go on a break soon. Late in the first half, Tyrick Mitchell sent a header wide of the target and Mateta also put the ball into the net, but it was ruled offside.
Sunderland remained in control after half-time, finally scoring in the 71st minute. Noah Sadiki found Brian Brobbey on the left side of the area and the striker flicked the ball towards goal with the top of his foot, sending it under the crossbar and into the net.
The Black Cats have remained unbeaten at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League this season, moving into eighth place, just three points off the top four.
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, have fallen to 14th place and have lost three consecutive away games in the Premier League.
Glassner criticizes the hierarchy surrounding the Guehi sale: “We were completely abandoned”
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner told Sky Sports: “I think the players gave it their all. We didn’t make any substitutions. Look at the bench, there’s only kids on there.”
“I feel completely abandoned. I don’t understand why they would sell the captain the day before the game.
“We’re preparing and yesterday we were told that our captain is being sold, so why isn’t he released next week? At least he’ll be available for this game and the other players will be back next week. It’s really upsetting.”
“If my heart were to be torn out twice a year, the day before the summer game as Eze and the day before the game as captain, I just don’t understand it.
“I’ve been playing football for 30 years and I’ve never experienced something like this. Now it happens twice every six or seven months. That’s exactly the situation we’re in right now.”
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Oliver Glassner criticized Crystal Palace’s hierarchy after his depleted side lost 2-1 to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
“We have been playing in recent weeks with just 12 or 13 players in the squad, some of whom are already playing their 35th game.
“We played well here for 50 or 60 minutes, but in the 15 or 20 minutes we were under pressure and conceded a goal. The players gave their best, but once again we didn’t have any support from the bench and that was very tough.”
“The players fought with their hearts on the pitch. It’s not easy to play here and despite everything the team has done very well. But again, we don’t feel supported.”
“Yesterday at 10:30 a.m., I first heard that Mark was being sold. I think the negotiations lasted a few days, so no one called at 10 a.m., and by 10:30 a.m. everything was agreed.”
“In that case, we have to deal with it. The day before the game we have to go to Sunderland. We know we are not in the best situation. We are aware of the situation without players and we will sell the captain.”
“No team would do something like this. On other teams, players play and the next day they’re gone, and we sell them the day before?”
Want to see the end of the season for yourself? “I don’t know, I’ve always had a huge amount of gratitude for this group of players.
“I have complete confidence in them. Their character is extraordinary and we will come together and change direction. I will never back down because these players deserve Oliver Glasner to be their coach and leader, and this is what I will do.”
“Sometimes a little support helps.”
Sherwood: Glassner wants to quit now.
Tim Sherwood speaks on Soccer Saturday:
“When a coach says he’s leaving the team, how does that feel for the team? It works both ways. It’s self-preservation. Now they’re losing the game.”
“When he takes the Palace job, he knows what he’s going to do: develop players and market them. That’s a club that sells.”
“He wants to leave the club as soon as possible. He wants to leave the club and he wants to leave now.”
Le Bris: a well-deserved important victory
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris told Sky Sports: “It’s not easy to win in the Premier League, so it was another important win. Even if we started a little slower or they started better than us, we found a solution in the end to come back and win.”
“We showed a really good level of maturity and confidence in the way we want to play. The first half wasn’t perfect, but we tried to improve some details during half-time and said we don’t need to go backwards. The important thing is to do things well and to be even better than in the first half.”
“We were a little more aggressive, a little more calm, a little more vertical and created chances, and in the end it was a well-deserved win.”
On Blobby: “He’s getting better every game. Initially he had to increase his fitness level but now that’s over. It’s about connecting with your team-mates and for a striker it’s always on the edge to gain confidence.
“Now he’s on the right side with confidence, so we’ll push and hopefully he can score again.”
