The Turbulent Day That Affected Guehi and Glasner’s Careers

A Bitter Double Blow for Crystal Palace

Losing both a key player and a coach on the same day presents a significant challenge that will take time to navigate. Just as Manchester City secured an initial £20 million agreement to acquire Crystal Palace’s captain, Marc Guehi, head coach Oliver Glasner announced his departure from the club at the season’s end.

These changes didn’t come as a complete surprise. Reports indicated that City was hastening their pursuit of Guehi following injuries to defenders Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias. By Thursday night, discussions between Manchester City and Palace had led to an agreement in principle for Guehi’s transfer to the Etihad Stadium.

Even without this quick resolution, Guehi’s contract with Palace was set to expire in June, meaning he would be leaving regardless of this month’s developments. For Glasner, though his decision to step down was somewhat unexpected, it was anticipated that he would part ways with Crystal Palace.

In a conversation with chairman Steve Parish back in October—the same month that speculation surrounding Glasner’s future began—the coach hinted at his intentions. According to Glasner, he and Parish had agreed to keep the news under wraps until they both felt it was the right time to go public.

Despite their efforts to maintain confidentiality, speculation about Glasner’s future had become common knowledge in the football community. The decision to allow Guehi to join City may have played a role in Glasner’s announcement during his weekly press briefing, though the rationale behind his revelation ultimately matters little to the club as they prepare for life without their most successful captain and manager.

How Did This Transpire?

Shortly before noon on Friday, Glasner gathered all the players and coaching staff at the club’s training facility. While the announcement itself wasn’t shocking—the players were probably well aware of the likelihood of Glasner’s departure—the timing certainly raised questions.

Right before his address, captain Guehi confirmed his move to Manchester City. Glasner, a strong supporter of Guehi, was already planning to leave at the end of the season. However, with Guehi’s move being expedited, it seems logical that Glasner would choose this moment to announce his own exiting plans.

Underlying tensions between Glasner and Palace’s management became apparent over the summer. The coach expressed frustration about the lack of new signings during the transfer window, as the club only brought in backup left-back Borna Sosa and second-string goalkeeper Walter Benitez.

They had aimed to recruit Sporting defender Ousmane Diomande, but the negotiations fell through. Glasner was adamant that the club needed to bolster the squad to build on last season’s FA Cup victory and to face the challenge of European competition for the first time.

Eventually, Palace did sign Yeremy Pino for £26 million, alongside young players Christantus Uche and Jaydee Canvot. Nevertheless, those signings have seen little action, and Glasner has largely utilized the same roster as last year—one that lost pivotal player Eberechi Eze to Arsenal.

While Palace’s start to the season showed promise, there were concerns brewing. Glasner, skilled at balancing domestic and European commitments, had won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt. However, some insiders believe his reluctance to rotate the squad signaled earlier intentions not to renew his contract.

With Palace experiencing a dismal run of nine consecutive matches without a victory—culminating in a humiliating defeat to non-league Macclesfield—it was clear trouble was looming. Currently sitting 13th in the Premier League, Palace is gearing up for an upcoming match against Sunderland.

Although retaining Guehi in the summer, which thwarted Liverpool’s £35 million bid, felt like a win for Glasner, various sources indicated he may have reconsidered his future had Guehi been sold. Even after informing Parish of his desire to resign, it appears the club held onto hopes of changing his mind, especially with their record signing of Brennan Johnson seemingly a last-ditch effort to solidify Glasner’s position.

Injuries Prompt Manchester City to Act

The impact of Guehi’s departure is profound. For the England international, joining Manchester City to collaborate with Pep Guardiola and compete in a title race while participating in the Champions League was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

Initially, Guehi did not plan to leave Selhurst Park mid-season. Following a failed move to Liverpool on the summer transfer deadline day, he decided to stay until the end of the current season. Liverpool and Bayern Munich were both interested parties, with longstanding interest from Liverpool and Bayern’s head coach, Vincent Kompany, taking a particular interest in him.

After injuries to Gvardiol and Dias accelerated City’s interest in Guehi, arrangements were made for him to travel north within 72 hours for the final steps in formalizing the transfer. There is anticipation that he will step into a starting role immediately due to the current state of City’s defense.

While some may question his choice, especially considering Guardiola’s uncertain future at the club, Guehi is poised for significant financial gain. However, the prospect of regularly contending for major trophies—with or without Guardiola—was the decisive factor in his decision.

As Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta observes the developments concerning Guehi, it raises questions about their strategies for the title race, especially after they reportedly made inquiries regarding his future interest early this month. With Guehi’s decision made, it remains to be seen how pivotal this transfer will be in determining the Premier League title’s final destination.