Oliver Glasner aims criticism at the Crystal Palace hierarchy after a 2-1 defeat to Man Utd on Sunday afternoon.
Jean-Philippe Mateta had given Palace a first-half lead with a twice-taken penalty, something which is now allowed under the 2025-26 rule change on double-touch spot-kicks.
Joshua Zirkzee had levelled early in the second half to make it his first Premier League goal in 12 months. But Mason Mount scored the winner from a Bruno Fernandes free-kick pass to give United their first away win at Selhurst Park since 2020.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, whose contract expires at the end of the season, said that his team were paying the price for the club deciding not to invest over the summer, adding they would have had a chance having a better season if they did.
“If you play for the first time in your club’s history in European football, I think the right answer is invest and not save, and we saved.”
Oliver Glasner provides an honest review of the impact of the Conference League on Palace’s Premier League performances 💬
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“I think it’s what we missed in summer, definitely,’ Glasner said on TNT Sports. “I never talked about it until now, but everything that happened was pretty clear.
“If you play for the first time in your club’s history, European football, I think the right answer is invest and not save. We saved and that’s what we are facing.
“This group of players give me everything every single day, but I think this group of players didn’t get the right support.
“But I know we will stick together, we will work hard to change this. We’re still in very good positions but again, I think this was a chance to have an even better season, we threw away in summer.”
On the game, he added: “Tough defeat, when you lose the game on two set-plays it makes it tough.
“We were not sharp enough, especially the second goal was terrible. I watched it back, it took us too long to get into the formation then three players from the wall ran out. I don’t know why we were doing this, but we did. That’s why we lost the game, in the end.
“I have seen us, especially in the first half, better than Man United. Then in the second half, when you concede two quick goals then we can see the energy level is not top after the tight schedule that we have.
“Again it feels not really deserved, it hurts and of course we know we should have done better in a few moments, but in the end we have to accept it.”
Glasner, speaking to BBC MOTD: “I don’t want to talk about the missed chances. If we need more than one minute to be organised for a free-kick, it is our fault. How we scored is a penalty. It is how it is. We deserved to have the lead and then it is about small margins. I can’t remember if Manchester United had a chance in open play but they were really good from set pieces and that’s why we lost in the end.
“We can find many excuses, we can say fatigue, rotation, many excuses but the performances in many parts was good. Man United have played 50% less games this season. The result hurt, really hurts at the moment but we will learn from it. Sometimes learning hurts. We missed a couple of chances in July and August, in the transfer window, to make it easier for us but again we will stick together and make it better.”
On making signings in January: “If you play European football for the first time in your history, you should invest and not save. We are doing well, we are still in a good position in the league and in all four competitions. I think January is too late. We will have played more than 50% of our games. Ismaila [Sarr] we lost him today with an injury and also he goes to AFCON so everything we are facing now, it’s not surprising. Everything was pretty clear and I didn’t say anything but today I think it is also time to speak about it that we missed the chance to play an even better season in the summer.
On Ismaila Sarr who went off injured: “Quite swollen ankle.”
“It’s so important in our league. Throw-ins, free-kicks, corner kicks. In the Premier League, if you don’t work on set-pieces, you are losing the game already.”
Amorim reacts to Man United’s joint lead of set-piece goals with Arsenal ♟
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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, speaking to BBC MOTD: “It was small details that helped. The pace and intensity was better in the second half. I could see that Palace were getting tired at the end of the first half and knew they would suffer if we scored.
“We went on to control the game well away from our goal and in the opposition half. We controlled the game well but just have to be careful about what we did in the first half.”
On how to exploit a team that you expect to fatigue: “It’s the runs and you could see it with Joshua Zirkzee and how he connected with the team through the second ball. You have to explain that to the players but we have experience of being like that [tired] from last season when we played midweek.”
On whether scoring will boost Joshua Zirkzee’s confidence: “Scoring is important but it’s not just the goals. They give confidence but Joshua has also improved a lot in how he holds the ball. That should give him a lot of confidence. He influences the game and that’s important to our game. He needs to maintain that level in training.”
On goals being shared out: “They have the quality and we have more players in the squad who can score. I’m really happy with them. Joshua [Zirkzee] hasn’t had many minutes and Mason [Mount] works really hard.”
On being tighter at the back today: “We weren’t near our own box and in the second half we touched every first ball and then got the second. We took advantage of a tired opponent.”
On being in the top six: “In this moment I just want to evaluate our team. We need to evolve and create variety in how we build-up – that’s the most important thing.”
Here’s how fans reacted as Oliver Glasner aims criticism at Crystal Palace hierarchy after 2-1 defeat to Man Utd…
@JackkBarton: This is not a man who is in a rush to sign a new contract. Pretty damning. #cpfc
@simon_pizzey: Was saving a few pounds really worth it @CEO4TAG? Unforgivable decisions by you & the Board
@gyf87: Back him in January or he’s off. It’s that simple. No scrapping around on deadline day for loans. Get it done early.
@cpfc_taylor: The best manager in our entire history, saying that the ownership is the thing holding us back and yet people still think Parish is the right man to be in charge, get fucked. January will be another fucking shit show
@TLBRAY92: I really hate these mid table clubs ghat finally get some kind of european journey and they dont give themselves the platform to compete in the league and Europe. It complete negates the point of progress for these clubs and won’t try to compete in Europe as it impacts the league
@HulyaAhmet5: I totally agree with everything OG says here. The best Manager we have had in our history who has won us 2 trophies but yet the hierarchy are not backing him. Why would he want to sign a new contract!! Board need to act and quick ❤️💙🦅
@ohjoewalker: It’s important not to be blinded by league position as the schedule could really catch up to us in December. We have a manager capable of more incredible things and we need to maximise that, whether or not he’s here past summer
@austincpfc1: I will always stand by the hierarchy currently in place will limit this club for as long as it stays the same. Parish not surprisingly done with interviews now there is no trophy to take a picture with or star player you are begging to sell to someone.
