Glasner Reaffirms Palace Commitment After Clear-the-Air Talks with Parish
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has emphatically declared his "100% commitment" to seeing out his contract with the Premier League club until the season's end, following a "long dinner" with chairman Steve Parish to resolve recent tensions. The Austrian boss revealed the candid conversation helped clear the air after what he described as a "thunderstorm" period at Selhurst Park.
Addressing the Transfer Timing Dispute
The friction emerged when Glasner felt the board had abandoned the squad by announcing captain Marc Guéhi's sale to Manchester City just 28 hours before their crucial match against Sunderland. Palace subsequently suffered a 2-1 defeat at the Stadium of Light, extending their winless run to ten games under Glasner's management. "I was quite emotional after the game," Glasner admitted, "and I think it shows how much the players, how much Crystal Palace means to me."
He clarified that his issue wasn't with Guéhi's departure itself—a move agreed upon a year earlier—but with the poor timing and lack of replacement planning. "I know that Crystal Palace will always sell players if they have big offers from other clubs," Glasner explained. "But it was just the situation, telling the team 28 hours before a Premier League game that the captain is leaving. This was my feeling at that moment."
Looking Forward with Renewed Optimism
The manager expressed confidence that the return of key players could revitalise Palace's fortunes. Ismaïla Sarr is back from international duty as an Africa Cup of Nations winner with Senegal, while Daniel Muñoz has recovered from injury. "Now we are preparing for the rest of the season," Glasner stated. "It was a thunderstorm, but always after a thunderstorm the sun is shining."
Glasner also addressed transfer speculation surrounding striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has attracted interest from Aston Villa and Juventus. The manager firmly denied any transfer request had been submitted and confirmed Mateta would start in their upcoming match against Chelsea. "To be very clear, he didn't hand in a transfer request, and we have no bid received right now," Glasner asserted.
Other Premier League Developments
Elsewhere in the Premier League, several other significant stories are unfolding as clubs navigate the challenges of the season:
- West Ham United have rejected an improved €40 million bid from Flamengo for midfielder Lucas Paquetá, though negotiations continue regarding a potential loan-back arrangement.
- Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has dismissed reports of Cole Palmer's homesickness, affirming the England international remains "very happy" at Stamford Bridge despite a difficult season.
- Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick has highlighted academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo as crucial to the club's future foundations, praising the young midfielder's character and quality.
- Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has defended striker Erling Haaland against criticism during his recent goal drought, insisting the Norwegian has "nothing to apologise for."
- Everton manager David Moyes has confirmed a "big blow" with on-loan winger Jack Grealish suffering a stress fracture in his foot, though the exact recovery timeframe remains uncertain.
- Aston Villa are increasingly optimistic about re-signing striker Tammy Abraham from Roma as Unai Emery seeks to strengthen his squad for multiple competitions.
These developments across the Premier League highlight the ongoing strategic decisions, managerial relationships, and player dynamics shaping what promises to be a compelling conclusion to the football season.
