Oliver Glasner defends Crystal Palace outburst that saw him claim his squad had been ‘abandoned’ following Marc Guehi sale – but insists he remains committed to his job at Selhurst Park

Olivr Glasner has defended his outburst that left Crystal Palace on the verge of sacking him as manager before he walks away from the club at the end of the season. 

The Austrian appeared to accuse the Palace hierarchy of ‘abandoning’ the squad last week when club captain Marc Guehi was sold to Manchester City, as he announced he would be leaving his role in a matter of months.

He said: ‘The players left their hearts out on the pitch and now they’ve had their hearts torn out twice, the other time before the game.

‘It’s tough to survive. You feel that you’re being abandoned, with no support. We’ve played with the same players and it’s been like that for weeks with the bench made up of kids.The players need to be protected and it’s unfair on them.’

Days on, ahead of Palace’s game against Chelsea this weekend, Glasner has stuck up for himself, detailing that he spoke to chairman Steve Parish about the events, but insisting he will give his all for the Eagles until he is no longer in charge. 

‘I had a very long dinner with Steve this week and we talked about the situation not to sell Marc, again the timing and a possible replacement,’ he said. ‘I wanted to explain and it was a very good talk for both of us.

‘I said I will give my best for a great season and Steve and me are still 100 per cent committed.’

‘Do I think it was the best way? No I don’t think so, but that’s Oliver Glasner. I’ve always told you that’s Oliver Glasner.

‘I don’t say I’m perfect, I would like to be. I never attacked anyone personally, I just explained my feelings.’

Aston Villa, meanwhile, have enquired about Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta after Juventus were rebuffed in their offer for the 28-year-old. Mateta has reportedly made his desire to leave Palace known.

But he is still available for selection for the time being, with Glasner seemingly insistent that the Frenchman will remain at the club until the Eagles’ valuation is met.

‘No bid has come in and he hasn’t handed in a transfer request and he will play Sunday,’ Glasner said of his forward. ‘That’s the situation.

‘I’ll repeat what I said two weeks ago – [for] every player there is a price where a club say OK. Evaluating the whole situation – age, contract duration and a price where the club says, “OK we agree a deal”.’