Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner believes his side are being ‘let down’ as he focused on the club’s transfer strategy following a 2-1 defeat to Sunderland.
In the first game since Glasner announced he would leave Palace at the end of the season, his side took the lead through Yeremy Pino’s goal, but Sunderland hit back before half-time through Enzo Le Fee.
Brian Brobbey’s 71st-minute effort was enough to give the home side the three points at the Stadium of Light, leaving Palace without a win in 10 games – the Eagles’ longest winless streak since a run of 13 games between January and March 2023 (D5 L8).
As well as confirming his impending departure, Glasner also revealed on Friday that club captain Marc Guehi is finalizing a move to Manchester City, while Jean-Philippe Mateta could also be on his way out of Selhurst Park.
And during fiery post-match media duties, Glasner lashed out at Palace’s transfer activities, and is particularly frustrated by the timing of Guehi’s departure.
“I feel like we have been completely let down,” he told BBC Sport.
“I can’t play against many players. They have done everything they can and this has been going on for weeks and months now. We have twelve, thirteen players available from the team and we feel no support.”
“The worst thing is that we sell our captain a day before playing a Premier League match.
“We are preparing, it is the first [full] week we train since September, and then we sell our captain the day before a match. So I have no idea about this.
“I have always kept my mouth shut [shut]but that’s not possible because I have to defend these players, because today was the 35th game.
“Yes, we are under pressure here and we are unlucky. But again, you can’t react, we can’t help them, that makes it really tough.”
Defeat in Sunderland. pic.twitter.com/CmfGqLQ25b
— Crystal Palace FC (@CPFC) January 17, 2026
When asked what led to Palace’s sudden decline in form, Glasner was unequivocal with his answer. He cited the sale of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal late in the summer window as another blow.
He said: “It’s quite clear, yes?
“I didn’t sell anyone. If your heart is torn apart twice this season, a day before a match, it was with Eze in the summer, and now it was with Guehi, you know?
“What do I tell the players all the time? What do I tell them?”
“I’m looking at the bench, I can’t respond, just kids on the bench, and this didn’t happen yesterday, this was weeks ago. That’s why I’m really frustrated.”
When asked if he’s looking forward to the season, Glasner said, “I don’t know.”
However, he then insisted that he would not let his team down.
He added: “No, never, I would never do that [leave]. I will be with this group of players until the end.
“I have so much respect for their character. I see that they are disappointed and I know how hard they work, I see how hard they fight in the end. Never, not a chance.”
“I told the players that we have to stick together. If we don’t get the support, it’s us who have to do it. There is no one else, we are the only ones, we are the ones who have to play.”
Meanwhile, Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris praised his side’s ‘maturity’ as they ended a run of five games without a league win.
He told BBC Sport: “I think we showed a great deal of maturity. It was very important to stay calm because we felt the quality of Crystal Palace, they are a good side.”
“We showed our intentions and I think our second half was very good.”
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