OLIVER Glasner insisted he saw “many positive things” despite Crystal Palace’s 4-2 defeat to Manchester City at Selhurst Park being a fifth game without a win for the Eagles manager.
Jean-Philippe Mateta gave Palace a fourth-minute lead before Kevin De Bruyne’s brace either side of goals from Rico Lewis and Erling Haaland after the teams had gone in level at 1-1 at half-time.
Substitute Odsonne Edouard scored a consolation four minutes from time.
“I’m not satisfied with the result but I saw many positive things in our performance,” Glasner said.
“When we lose 4-2, I don’t like to talk about positive things, but in phases of the game we could compete. It shows we are able to create chances. But of course when you concede four goals, you lose.”
Palace led for only nine minutes before De Bruyne struck for Pep Gualdiola’s side.
Glasner said: “We scored an excellent first goal but the equaliser [came] too fast. We could see their dominance in possession but we always looked to be dangerous.
“I’m a little bit sad for the players because they invested so much today. Our challenge is to keep this physical and mental level top for 95 minutes. The result is disappointing again and results are important, but it’s good for me to see the players progressing.”
Luton Town’s last-minute win against AFC Bournemouth later on Saturday means Palace are now only five points above the relegation zone.
And the Eagles face a daunting trip to Anfield to play Liverpool next weekend.
“If we do our job on a high level, we are competitive against any team,” Glasner said.
“I’m really pleased with the energy we had, the whole stadium had, the fans had even when we were 4-1 down.
“The substitutes brought in new energy and we scored a nice second goal. It could have been but has not been. The performance, in many situations, was really good. But to concede four goals is too much.”
Palace had some success getting behind City’s defence and had seven attempts on goal.
Mateta ran from his own half on to a ball from Adam Wharton after the hosts had won back possession.
“We watched them, City, how they pressed high,” Mateta said on TNT Sport. “It was the plan. I scored early against a good, big team in the world. In the second half they come back strong.
“We tried. We scored once, and after we had many chances, but we didn’t score. They scored all the chances they had. City is a good team.”
Guardiola, meanwhile, heaped praise on the De Bruyne, the game’s best player. He curled a brilliant equaliser into the top-right corner from just inside the left edge of the box.
De Bruyne also set up Haaland’s goal before drilling a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Dean Henderson into the bottom-left corner.
“For many years he has been one of the best players for our club,” Guardiola said. “What he has done in England has been unbelievable. Many goals, assists and consistency. We had four or five months without him and now we need him at the end of the season.
“I think he likes to score goals but I don’t know if he enjoys it more to make an assist. He is so generous with that – but he has to continue.”
