Glasner Critiques Crystal Palace’s Summer Spending

Palace’s Early Season Struggles

Just half a year after securing their inaugural major trophy by defeating Manchester City in the FA Cup, Crystal Palace finds themselves struggling to adapt in both domestic and European competitions. Following their historic victory, the Eagles secured a spot in Europe; however, they have yet to achieve a win in any of their four Premier League matches that have followed European fixtures, including a recent 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United.

Glasner Highlights Transfer Shortcomings

Manager Oliver Glasner has voiced concerns regarding the lack of investment in the squad, particularly after the departure of key player Eberechi Eze to Arsenal. He mentioned, “We missed several opportunities in July and August during the transfer window to strengthen the team, but we will stay united and strive for improvement,” in an interview with BBC Match of the Day.

Despite cashing in a club-record £60 million for Eze, Palace did not adequately reinvest those funds. The club made six permanent signings and one loan deal, with the largest expense being Spain’s Yeremy Pino, brought in for around £26 million.

“If you’re competing in Europe for the first time, you should invest rather than save,” Glasner stated. He remarked that January may be too late for valuable additions, as by then they will have completed over half of their fixtures.

Mixed Results but Room for Hope

Despite recent setbacks, there is a silver lining for Crystal Palace. Following their latest loss, they occupy ninth place in the Premier League, just two points behind Brighton who sit fifth. In the Conference League, they have won two and lost two, keeping them in contention for progression to the knockout stages, alongside a spot in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

However, Glasner expressed concern that the congested schedule could start taking its toll, with fatigue and injuries as potential threats to their performance. Ismaila Sarr has emerged as a standout player this season with eight goals so far, but his recent injury against Manchester United raises concerns, especially with his impending participation in the Africa Cup of Nations next month.

On Sarr’s condition, Glasner said, “His ankle is quite swollen. We anticipate missing him for a couple of weeks, but it now looks like it could be a longer absence. It’s challenging because we lack a player of his profile.”

Glasner Issues a Cautionary Note

Despite limited summer reinforcements, Palace managed to hold onto club captain Marc Guehi, who narrowly avoided a transfer to Liverpool just before the summer deadline after a £35 million deal fell through. Reports suggested Glasner indicated he would consider resigning if Guehi’s sale had proceeded.

Glasner, whose contract runs until summer 2026, denied any internal tensions with chairman Steve Parish. Nevertheless, Guehi’s current contract expires in June, and if he does not renew, he could depart for free.

Arriving in England with a solid reputation following his success in Germany, including winning the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt, Glasner has continued to make an impact. Manchester United reportedly expressed interest in him over the summer, coinciding with speculations surrounding the future of their manager, Ruben Amorim.

Emphasizing his ambition, Glasner remarked, “I am not one for patience; we aim to succeed and win across all competitions.” He believes the club must allocate the necessary resources to achieve progress, or they might as well stop competing altogether.