IT has been a dark day for Crystal Palace as Oliver Glasner has announced he will leave at the end of the season and club captain Marc Guehi is moving to Manchester City.
Speculation has surrounded the Austrian boss’s future since the summer after the Eagles sold Eberechi Eze to Arsenal a year after Michael Olise joined Bayern Munich.
One of the few positives from the summer was Guehi remaining at Selhurst Park, but he is now heading to Manchester to sign for Pep Guardiola’s City in a cut-price £20million deal as he is in the last six months of his contract.
Glasner denied any of the sales had anything to do with his decision.
“A decision has already been taken, months ago. I had a meeting with Steve [Parish] in October, the international break,” Glasner said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to Sunderland on Saturday.
“We had a very long talk, and I told him I will not sign a new contract. We agreed at the time it was the best to keep it between us. It’s the best that we could do that and keep it confidential for three months.
“But now it’s important to have clarity, and we had a very busy schedule so that’s why we didn’t want to talk about it. Steve and I want the best for Crystal Palace.
Guehi will not be n the squad to face the Black Cats.
“Latest understanding, the deal with Marc is in the final stages. We can’t confirm, but it is not done. The result is Marc doesn’t play tomorrow for us<‘ Glasner said.
“When the players want to move on a deal will happen. It looks like it has happened now.
“Everyone wanted Marc to stay forever. I talked to him, of course, it stays between us. Marc shown it in the summer transfer window, shown it the whole autumn that he was 100 per cent committed to the team and to Crystal Palace.
“I wish him all the best for the rest of his career. He is still at the beginning of his great career. He is a fantastic guy.”
Glasner added: “It was for all of us us surprising. We had a meeting as normal – players little surprised.
“I told them we sold Michael Olise and it was the best season in Palace season.
“We lost Eze and we are right now four points better than last year. We could always cope with the situation and we will show. It is up to us to show we can cope with this situation, again.”
