Oliver Glasner is famend for his entertaining exchanges with the press however even by his requirements, Friday’s bombshell bulletins had been jaw-dropping.
Within the area of a few minutes, Crystal Palace misplaced their captain and their supervisor. Glasner confirmed Marc Guehi was on the verge of becoming a member of Manchester Metropolis earlier than casually including that he himself can be leaving the membership on the finish of the season.
Each developments had been on the playing cards, however the method of the bulletins, delivered one after the opposite, was surprising. Palace supporters would have been forgiven for considering the membership was tearing aside in entrance of their very eyes.
It was Guehi’s impending departure that prompted Glasner to go public, but it surely was not the catalyst for his resolution. That had already been communicated to chairman Steve Parish over dinner again in October.
Whereas Glasner has persistently painted the image of a collaborative and cordial relationship with Parish – claiming as not too long ago as final month that there can be closing contract talks in January and that no resolution had been made on his future – tensions have lengthy existed beneath the floor.
In his first summer time on the membership, in 2024, Glasner was annoyed by Palace ready till deadline day to finish their closing 4 signings, and the dearth of time he needed to correctly instil his concepts in his squad. Palace went on to make the worst begin to a top-flight season of their historical past, though it in the end ended as their finest – reaching a document factors tally and profitable the FA Cup.
Oliver Glasner (proper) determined he wished to depart Crystal Palace on the finish of the season in October, telling chairman Steve Parish over dinner
Glasner had lengthy been annoyed with Palace’s lethargy within the switch window, going again to his first summer time on the membership
This time period, Glasner once more aired his frustrations publicly after a defeat by Manchester United in November, criticising the membership’s switch coverage and an absence of squad depth.
The sale of Eberechi Eze in the summertime had exacerbated these frustrations. Glasner wished his talisman and FA Cup-winning goalscorer changed with three attackers to assist unfold the load, however Palace delivered solely two. Yeremy Pino arrived for £26million and Christantus Uche joined on mortgage, but the facet have struggled in entrance of objective, persistently underperforming their xG.
Enjoying in 4 competitions this season, Palace did not recruit the depth required to compete throughout the board. They entered the season with only one pure choice on the right-hand facet in each key roles: Daniel Munoz at wing-back and Ismaila Sarr in assault.
Sarr was all the time anticipated to overlook a part of the marketing campaign as a result of Africa Cup of Nations. His absence, compounded by an damage to Munoz, led to a predictable breakdown in Palace’s attacking play. A scarcity of planning for these eventualities has proved expensive, with Palace paying the worth in a run of 9 video games with no win.
Since Glasner’s arrival, Palace have underdelivered within the switch market – regardless of assuring him that classes had been discovered from leaving the squad quick and performing too late. When the identical issues occurred in consecutive seasons, the Austrian misplaced belief within the membership sticking to their phrase.
A major squad overhaul is anticipated this summer time, however Glasner has seen little proof that Palace can successfully construct an entire squad, making his resolution to depart a calculated one.
Though shedding essentially the most profitable supervisor within the membership’s historical past will sting, this summer time represents a super level for transition.
Palace plan to promote England worldwide Adam Wharton, who is anticipated to command a price within the area of £80m. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s contract talks have stalled utterly, with the striker eager to depart earlier than his deal expires in 2027, whereas Daichi Kamada is out of contract and prone to depart after arriving underneath Glasner.
It was the approaching departure of membership captain Marc Guehi to Manchester Metropolis that prompted Glasner to go public together with his resolution in a shocking press convention
Star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta may additionally be on the way in which out after talks over a brand new contract for the Frenchman collapsed
Regardless of the chance to rebuild, there may be concern that Palace’s finest days could now be behind them, significantly following the departure of sporting director Dougie Freedman, who was instrumental in assembling a squad whose worth steadily appreciated.
Even with Glasner’s future now clear, the January switch window stays a vital juncture. The hierarchy are targeted on the long run however recognise the short-term alternative to win the Convention League and safe back-to-back European campaigns. In consequence, they need to nonetheless again Glasner regardless of his upcoming exit.
Brennan Johnson has already been introduced in for a club-record price, and with Glasner speaking his resolution to the Palace hierarchy final 12 months, that signifies they continue to be on the identical web page.
Palace are focusing on a proper wing-back, a central midfielder and a striker this month. Mateta may nonetheless depart in January, which might pressure Palace so as to add two strikers.
Angers ahead Sidiki Cherif is eager on a transfer regardless, with Palace already making an preliminary strategy, whereas Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen can be thought of if Mateta leaves.
Changing Guehi – on whom Palace have made a revenue regardless of the England worldwide having solely 5 months left on his deal – presents one other main problem.
At centre again, 19-year-old Jaydee Canvot and midfielder Jefferson Lerma are the one choices obtainable to help Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards in a again three.
For any potential arrivals, the uncertainty surrounding the membership has made the gross sales pitch considerably more durable. Palace at the moment are a membership in limbo, and potential recruits could also be reluctant to affix a facet whose finest days could possibly be behind them. That stated, Palace’s January targets have been decided for a number of months.
There’s a rising concern that the wheels may come off in Glasner’s closing months. The problem now’s conserving gamers engaged regardless of his looming exit.
Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen could also be a participant Palace flip to if Mateta follows Guehi out of the exit door
Glasner can be determined to log out on a excessive by profitable the Convention League in his final recreation in cost
But it additionally presents a possibility. Palace can refocus on a single, collective objective: profitable the Convention League closing in Leipzig in Might. Glasner hopes that can be his closing match in cost, and it will be a becoming send-off for essentially the most profitable supervisor within the membership’s historical past. What lies past is unclear, though Jose Bordalas of Getafe and Rayo Vallecano’s Inigo Perez are stated to be two names within the body to switch Glasner.
Whereas the Austrian insists his sole focus is Palace, the Manchester United job could possibly be an choice following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal and Michael Carrick’s appointment as interim supervisor till the top of the season.
United’s director of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, is known to be an admirer of Glasner, who’s among the many candidates into consideration.
Glasner has framed his resolution as a want for a brand new problem. His profession has been constructed on success the place it was not anticipated, however now he desires to push himself outdoors his consolation zone and show he can ship the place it’s demanded.
The United job has been a poisoned chalice since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, however Glasner will imagine he will be the person to show it round.
Glasner got here to England to raise his CV and show he may compete with the elite. He has completed precisely that. Delivering the primary trophies in Crystal Palace’s 121-year historical past confirmed his credentials and propelled him firmly into the dialog for soccer’s largest jobs.
