Oliver Glasner Unleashes Fury at Crystal Palace Board Over Marc Guehi Exit Before Sunderland Defeat
Oliver Glasner has publicly criticised Crystal Palace’s leadership in an explosive outburst following the club’s 2-1 defeat by Sunderland. The manager’s anger was triggered by confirmation that captain Marc Guehi is set to join Manchester City, with the agreement becoming public on the eve of the match.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner accuses the club of abandoning the squad after Marc Guehi’s sale to Manchester City was revealed just before a loss to Sunderland.
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Palace are currently navigating a period of internal disorder. Glasner confirmed that he will leave the club at the end of the season once his contract runs out, a choice he made back in October as he sought a new professional challenge. Since then, uncertainty has only intensified around Selhurst Park.
The decision to sell Guehi for an initial £20 million (€23m/$26.7m) has become a major flashpoint. Glasner was particularly incensed by the timing, questioning why such a crucial deal was finalised just before a Premier League fixture and arguing that it placed unnecessary strain on an already stretched squad.
Transfer speculation is not limited to the club captain. Jean-Philippe Mateta may also depart, with Juventus holding discussions over a possible move. Combined with the previous sale of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal last summer, Palace now face the prospect of losing several key figures in a short space of time.
In his post-match interview with the BBC, Glasner said the team felt entirely unsupported. He defended his players, stating they had given everything despite ongoing issues that have lasted for months. With only 12 or 13 senior players available, he described the situation as unsustainable and singled out the sale of Guehi before a match as the most damaging decision.
Glasner explained that the squad had finally returned to a full week of training for the first time since September, only for preparations to be disrupted by the captain’s exit. He admitted he could no longer remain silent and said the mounting pressure was unfair on players who were already battling injuries and fatigue.
The Palace manager also highlighted his lack of in-game options, pointing to a bench filled with young players and a shortage of experience. He stressed that these problems had not appeared overnight but had been building for weeks, leaving him powerless to influence matches.
Despite the chaos, Glasner made it clear he has no intention of leaving early. He pledged to stay with the group until the end of the season, praising their attitude and resilience. He told his players they must rely on each other, insisting unity was essential if support from elsewhere was not forthcoming.
As Palace prepare for the coming weeks, Glasner must plan without his captain and potentially without Mateta. A London derby against Chelsea is approaching, and there is uncertainty over whether Glasner will still be in charge on the touchline at Stamford Bridge.
