Oliver Glasner was left searching for answers as his Crystal Palace side suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in the club's modern history, losing 1-0 to part-time, sixth-tier Macclesfield in the FA Cup third round.
A day of shame at Moss Rose
The Austrian manager watched in visible exasperation from the touchline at Moss Rose as his FA Cup holders were dumped out of the competition by opponents 117 places below them in the English football pyramid. Glasner's post-match shock was palpable, telling reporters he had "no explanation" for the performance.
Just 238 days after lifting the club's first major trophy at Wembley, the contrast could not have been starker. Captain Marc Guéhi faced furious travelling supporters after the final whistle, engaging in intense discussions as Macclesfield's players and fans celebrated a historic victory with a pitch invasion.
The only goal came in the first half from a Paul Dawson header, a glaring weakness for Palace who have now conceded 10 of their last 12 goals from set pieces. The defeat extends a worrying run to nine games without a win in all competitions.
A squad stretched to breaking point
The loss laid bare the severe limitations of a squad struggling with the dual demands of a debut European campaign and a Premier League season. Key injuries to Daniel Muñoz and Daichi Kamada have bitten deep, while England internationals Guéhi and Adam Wharton are showing the strain of a marathon 34-game season already.
Glasner's tactical system, heavily reliant on dynamic wing-backs, has been horribly exposed by Muñoz's absence. Summer signing Borna Sosa has proven inadequate cover, and the failure to adequately replace Wembley hero Eberechi Eze – despite receiving a club-record £67.5m fee from Arsenal – has left the attack blunt for much of the season.
New arrival Brennan Johnson, a January signing from Tottenham, failed to provide the required spark against Macclesfield. The decision to leave star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta at home over concerns about Moss Rose's artificial pitch backfired spectacularly, despite the Frenchman's clear need for a rest.
A manager and a club at a crossroads
The defeat intensifies the uncertainty surrounding Glasner's future at Selhurst Park. He declined a lucrative new contract in the summer, challenging the board to match his ambitions. While the club kept hold of Guéhi, their overall investment has been questioned.
Chairman Steve Parish, who endured the embarrassment of being seated among jubilant Macclesfield fans, now faces a critical January. The club hopes to sign Zakaria El Ouahdi to cover for Muñoz and may seek a new midfielder, requiring significant mid-season investment.
This comes as the club prepares to start work on a new £150m main stand, funded partly by a £125m loan from Goldman Sachs. The project, following the purchase of six neighbouring houses for demolition, signals long-term intent, but may not be enough to convince Glasner his immediate ambitions can be realised in South London.
In a bizarre historical footnote, the last non-league side to knock out the FA Cup holders were Crystal Palace themselves – then a Southern League team – who beat Wolves in 1909. They subsequently lost 9-0 to Burnley. While 17 May 2025 is forever etched in Palace folklore, 10 January 2026 will now be remembered with starkly contrasting emotions, potentially as a turning point for the Glasner era.
