Crystal Palace fell to a dramatic 2-1 loss to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, and Oliver Glasner refused to hold his tongue on club affairs in the aftermath with a damning interview
19:11, 17 Jan 2026Updated 19:42, 17 Jan 2026
Oliver Glasner has lashed out at his club(Image: Getty Images)
Oliver Glasner has lashed out at the Crystal Palace board with feelings that his squad is being “abandoned completely,” after a 2-1 loss to Sunderland on Saturday. His comments have also sparked concerns that he could be on his way from Selhurst Park ahead of the summer.
The Eagles looked like a shadow of the team that scooped an FA Cup and Community Shield double in 2025 when they landed at the Stadium of Light, throwing away a one-goal lead and returning to the capital empty-handed. Yeremy Pino opened the scoring for his team 30 minutes into the match, only for Enzo Le Fee to level matters almost immediately.
While Jean-Philippe Mateta then seemed to have put the Eagles back ahead, his thunderous strike was ruled out for offside. It was Brian Brobbey who clinched all three points for the Black Cats on the day, cheekily lifting the ball over Dean Henderson with around 20 minutes left to play.
READ MORE: Oliver Glasner sparks Crystal Palace exodus that could also include Jean-Philippe MatetaREAD MORE: Marc Guehi fee revealed as Man City agree bargain January transfer deal
In the aftermath of the loss, Glasner vented his frustrations to BBC Sport, targeting executives at his club for decisions which have proven costly as of recent. He said: “I’ve seen a team that is leaving their heart on the pitch. As you have seen we couldn’t make a sub, we had no-one on the bench.
“I feel we are being abandoned completely. Because I can’t play many players. They did everything they could and this has been going on for weeks and months now. And we have 12, 13 players from the squad available and we feel no support.
“The worst thing is selling our captain one day before playing a Premier League game. We are preparing, it’s the first week we are training since September, and then we are selling our captain one day before a game. So I have no understanding of this.
“I have always kept my mouth [closed], but I can’t because I have to defend these players, because it was the 35th game today. Yes we get under pressure here and we are unlucky. But again, you can’t react, we can’t help them, it makes it really tough tonight.”
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When asked about who he felt had “abandoned” him, Glasner added: “It’s pretty clear, yeah? It’s pretty clear. Again, I didn’t sell anyone. If you get your heart torn out twice this season, one day before a game, it was with [Eberechi] Eze in summer, it was with Guehi now, you know?
“What should I tell the players all the time? What should I tell them? And then I see the performance today for 50, 60 minutes, today it was not easy with all the circumstances going here with 12 players from the squad, and yes then you have 15, 20 minutes when you are under pressure, you concede the goal, I look at the bench, I can’t react, just kids on the bench, and this has not happened yesterday, this is weeks ago. That’s why I’m really frustrated today.”
Asked if he had told the board of his frustrations, Glasner explained: “Of course they know it, we’re talking all the time. But again, talk does not win the game.”
It comes as Glasner announced that he will leave Crystal Palace this summer on the expiration of his contract. The Austrian has been linked with making a move to Manchester United when Michael Carrick’s interim head coaching role is up, but Tottenham has also been earmarked as a potential landing zone for him as a result of poor performances from Thomas Frank.
Brian Brobbey scored the winner for Sunderland(Image: Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
However, despite already confirming he will leave the club this summer, Glasner said that he would not be quitting the team early.
“Never, I would never,” Glasner responded when asked whether he could leave if the situation does not improve in January. “I will go with this group of players until the end because there is so much respect for them.
“I see how hard they’re working, how hard they fight, they try, try and try.
“We have to stick together; I know I can trust these players, but for me it feels as soon as we fell safe, not getting relegated, we make these decisions.
“I’m told at 10:30am, we sell our captain, negotiations have been happening for two-three days so why do I only get told then? We have the chance for amazing season, European football, but no.
“We can look to who we rely on, we ca rely on the fans, the coaching staff, the players, that’s what we will look to.”
Speaking about his exit, Glasner revealed earlier this week: “My decision had already been taken months ago. I had a meeting with Steve in October international break over dinner. I told him I would not sign a new contract with Crystal Palace. We agreed at the time it was best to keep it between us. I told the team today the same. I think it is important to have clarity. I have not spoken to any other club.”
Elsewhere in his pre-match press conference for Sunderland, Glasner revealed that Marc Guehi was on the verge of completing a transfer. He said: “When the players want to move on a deal will happen. It looks like it has happened now.
“Everyone wanted Marc Guehi to stay forever. I wish him all the best for the rest of his career. He is still at the beginning of his great career. He is a fantastic guy.”
It has since emerged that the centre-back is on the verge of signing a contract with Manchester City, and will undergo a medical with the Sky Blues on Sunday ahead of a £30million move.
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