"ABANDONED" NO MORE? THE TRUTH BEHIND OLIVER GLASNER’S U-TURN ON THE PALACE BOARD
After clearing the air with the board, Oliver Glasner shifts focus to Chelsea and Palace’s hunt for Conference League glory.
Oliver Glasner doesn’t want his time at Crystal Palace to end on a sour note, not after the past couple of weeks at Selhurst Park.
The year started rough for Palace. They crashed out of the FA Cup to non-league Macclesfield. Then Marc Guéhi, the club captain, left for Manchester City in a £20 million move. Glasner has already said he’s leaving at the end of the season, and the team hasn’t won in ten games. The latest blow? Losing 2–1 at Sunderland, which set Glasner off—he slammed the board for selling Guéhi when they did and said he felt like the squad had been “abandoned.”
But things seem to be calming down. Glasner and chairman Steve Parish sat down for dinner this week. They talked things through, made peace, and agreed to focus on the UEFA Conference League.
Glasner only joined Palace in February 2024, taking over from Roy Hodgson, but he made an immediate impact—he won the FA Cup in his first full season, finally bringing the club their first major trophy in 120 years.
Now, Glasner wants to close out his time at Palace on a high and put all the drama behind him.
“I was emotional after the Sunderland game. The club and the players mean a lot to me,” Glasner said. “I don’t regret what I said—this is just who I am. But, yeah, it wasn’t the best timing.
“I had a long dinner with Steve this week. We talked about the Marc situation—not about selling him, but about the timing and who might replace him. I wanted Steve to understand where I was coming from.
“It was a good talk. I wasn’t attacking anyone. I just needed to share how I felt.
“Steve and I left dinner smiling. We’ve achieved so much together in the last 22 months. We’re not going to let it end as these last few weeks have gone.
“We’re sticking together and working to finish the season the way it deserves. That’s what I told the players.
“I was honest with them about everything. Now that we’ve got some players coming back, there’s a real sense that we can turn this around.”
Glasner’s been pushing for more signings since January, but with Daniel Muñoz and Ismaïla Sarr both back and set to start against Chelsea, he thinks they only need one more new face.
“I hope Daichi Kamada comes back at the start of February. He wants to play against Chelsea—honestly, we had to calm him down.
“He’s frustrated. He just wants to train and play more. I told him, ‘Hey, tranquillo’—I don’t know how to say that in Japanese.
“He’ll be back when the Conference League heats up. Hopefully, we’ll be in it for a while.
“Eddie Nketiah should return soon. That’ll give us more options. I still think we’ll bring in one more player this window, and then we’ll have a good balance.
“We already signed Brennan, and he’s a great addition. The last couple of weeks haven’t felt great, and I take responsibility for that, along with our results. But now we’re focusing on what we can actually control—the work on the pitch.
“We have to get better. There’s no point dwelling on everything else. We don’t need to change everything, just improve in a few areas.
“We used to create a lot more chances earlier in the season, and we’ve lost that a bit. To start winning again, we need to fix that.
“That’s what we’re working on. We’ve got more time to train now, to focus on the right things. I’m pretty optimistic about the next few weeks and months.”
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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