Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has firmly defended his recent emotional outburst following a defeat to Sunderland, stating he has no regrets while clarifying striker Jean-Philippe Mateta's situation at the club.
Glasner's Unapologetic Stance on Emotional Outburst
The Austrian manager, who confirmed last week he will leave Selhurst Park when his contract expires at season's end, stood by his comments where he claimed the team felt "abandoned" with "no support" after their 2-1 loss to Sunderland. That match marked Palace's first game without former captain Marc Guehi, who has since completed a move to Manchester City.
"No, I don't regret it," Glasner stated emphatically. "Do I think it was the best way? No, I don't think so, but that's Oliver Glasner. I think it's also a part of what we achieved together, that I'm that emotional. I think it helps to create the spirit, that togetherness, that belief."
Clear-the-Air Talks with Chairman Parish
Despite the public criticism of the club's hierarchy, Glasner revealed he had a "very long dinner" with co-owner Steve Parish that he described as a "very, very good talk for both of us." However, the manager confirmed "nothing changed" regarding his decision to depart at the end of the current campaign.
The 51-year-old clarified his issue wasn't with selling players in principle, but with the timing of Guehi's departure announcement. "One year ago in February I agreed to sell Marc. It's all about timing and replacement," Glasner explained. "I know that Crystal Palace will always sell players if they have big offers from other clubs, but it was just the situation, telling the team 28 hours before a Premier League game that the captain is leaving."
Mateta Transfer Situation Clarified
Addressing speculation surrounding French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has been linked with a move to Aston Villa, Glasner provided clear clarification on the current situation.
"He didn't hand in a transfer request and we have no bid received right now. That is the situation," the Palace boss confirmed.
When pressed about whether he had held informal discussions with Mateta about a potential move away from Selhurst Park, Glasner remained discreet, stating: "I speak with many players about different topics, but I think what they deserve is that I don't tell it publicly."
Looking Ahead to Season's Conclusion
Despite the turbulent period, Glasner insisted both he and Parish remain "100 percent committed" to achieving a strong finish to what has been a challenging season for the Eagles, who are currently on a 10-game winless run across all competitions.
The manager likened recent events to a "thunderstorm" but predicted brighter days ahead, particularly with the return of Ismaila Sarr following Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations triumph and a fit-again Daniel Munoz available for selection.
In team news, goalkeeper Dean Henderson has been confirmed as Palace's captain for the remainder of the season, beginning with Sunday's Premier League encounter against Chelsea at Selhurst Park.
