Oliver Glasner says Crystal Palace ‘lacked everything’ after historic FA Cup defeat

Oliver Glasner delivered a scathing assessment of Crystal Palace’s performance after they were dumped out of the FA Cup by non-league Macclesfield in one of the most remarkable upsets in the competition’s history.

The Premier League side were beaten 2-1 away from home by National League North opposition, a result that Glasner admitted his team fully deserved.

Crystal Palace arrived at Moss Rose as reigning FA Cup holders but were comprehensively outplayed by Macclesfield, who sit 117 places below them in the English football pyramid.

Goals from Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley put the hosts firmly in control, while Yeremy Pino’s late strike proved nothing more than a consolation for Palace.

The result has been recorded as the biggest FA Cup shock ever based on league-position disparity.

Speaking to BBC Sport after the final whistle, Oliver Glasner did not attempt to soften his assessment.

“Congratulations to Macclesfield,” Glasner said.
“We lacked any kind of quality today. Conceding a set-play from a header — we had to do better. The second goal was slapstick.

“At the other end, if you can’t create clear-cut chances, it’s just a lack of quality. We lost and we deserved to lose.”

The Palace boss admitted he was unable to explain the performance, even after making attacking changes at half-time.

“I was looking for quality from everyone. I brought on more attacking players, but I have no explanation for what I’ve seen today,” he added.

“You don’t need tactics in these kinds of games. You just have to show what you’re capable of and show a little bit of pride. But today we lacked everything.”

The defeat deepens an already difficult period for Palace, who are now without a win in their last nine matches in all competitions.

Glasner’s contract expires at the end of the season, and the Austrian is widely expected to leave Selhurst Park this summer amid growing uncertainty over the club’s direction.

Despite Palace’s struggles, Glasner continues to be linked with a potential move to Manchester United, where he is believed to be admired by senior figures following his work in England.

Significant changes are anticipated at Palace once the season concludes. Club captain Marc Guéhi is expected to depart unless a January exit materialises, while Adam Wharton and Jean-Philippe Mateta are also attracting interest.

Saturday’s defeat has only intensified scrutiny around the squad’s mentality and long-term planning, with Glasner’s comments reflecting a wider sense of frustration inside the club.

For Palace, attention now turns back to stabilising their league form as pressure mounts on both players and staff. For Glasner, the coming months may determine whether this shock defeat becomes a footnote — or a defining moment of his time at Selhurst Park.

Is this FA Cup humiliation a one-off collapse — or a sign of deeper problems at Crystal Palace under Oliver Glasner?