Crystal Palace are on the brink of dismissing manager Oliver Glasner after a remarkable public outburst in which he accused the club's hierarchy of abandoning his squad.
Glasner's Explosive Comments Spark Crisis
The immediate trigger for the crisis was the sale of club captain Marc Guéhi to Manchester City for £20 million. The England defender was sold just 24 hours before Palace's trip to face Sunderland, a match they lost 2-1. Glasner revealed he was informed Guéhi would not be available at 10.30am on the Friday before the Saturday fixture.
In a passionate post-match address, the Austrian manager did not hold back. "Your heart gets torn out twice in a season, one day before a game," he said, also referencing the summer sale of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal. "We feel that we’re being abandoned. There’s no support. Everybody’s disappointed. We’ve been playing with 12 to 13 players for weeks now. On the bench I had just kids."
A Fractured Relationship with the Board
The situation has been compounded by Glasner's prior confirmation that he will leave Selhurst Park when his contract expires this summer, an announcement believed to have surprised chairman Steve Parish. Parish is now said to be dismayed by Glasner's latest comments and is weighing whether dismissal is the only option left.
Club sources indicate Palace feel they acted in the club's best financial interest by accepting the offer for Guéhi, as he was out of contract in the summer and could have left for free. This tension is not new; Glasner had threatened to resign on the final day of the summer transfer window when a move for Guéhi to Liverpool seemed imminent.
When asked if he needed more board support after the Sunderland defeat, Glasner's response was scathing: "I don’t need any support. Crystal Palace needs it... They are fine with this. OK, they can do it if they want to play a more successful season."
What Happens Next for Crystal Palace?
A final decision on Glasner's immediate future is expected on Sunday. Should the club decide to act, assistant manager Paddy McCarthy is the likely candidate to take over as caretaker for the remainder of the season.
The potential dismissal compounds a miserable period for the Eagles, coming just eight months after Glasner led them to their first major trophy, the FA Cup. His disenchantment with a lack of transfer activity since that triumph has now boiled over publicly.
Further upheaval could be on the horizon. Juventus are preparing a new offer for striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, proposing a loan with an obligation to buy. The French forward has under 18 months on his contract and is keen on the move. Palace reportedly explored including Juventus's Jonathan David in the deal, but the Canadian has no interest in moving to London.
As the club engages in talks with Angers for 19-year-old forward Sidiki Cherif, the immediate focus remains on the fate of their trophy-winning manager and the deepening rift at the heart of the club.
