Oliver Glasner was furious with his Crystal Palace players after their stunning FA Cup third-round elimination at Macclesfield on Saturday, claiming his U21 side would have put in a stronger showing.
In one of the most remarkable shocks in FA Cup history, National League North outfit Macclesfield — established five years ago following the collapse of Macclesfield Town — began the day 117 places below Premier League Palace and became the first non-League side in 117 years to defeat the FA Cup holders. Ironically, the last time it happened was when then-Southern League side Palace overcame Wolves back in 1909.
As Macclesfield enjoyed a thoroughly deserved 2-1 victory, a shell-shocked Glasner watched his Palace team tamely relinquish the trophy they lifted in May — the first major honour in the club’s history — with the Austrian insisting significant changes are required.
Speaking to the BBC, Glasner said: “Congratulations to Macclesfield. 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 what we’ve shown today. We lost and we deserved to lose.
“I was looking for quality from everyone. I brought on more attacking players [at half-time], but I have no explanation for what I’ve seen today.
“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, and you’ll perform in a different way.
‘U21s would have done better’ When asked what message he delivered to his squad following the loss, Glasner told TalkSPORT: “Not a lot.
“I think when you play here against a non-League team, I think you don’t need tactics, I think you don’t need a manager, honestly.
“I was a player for 19 years so I know these things can happen, but the way we played – their goalkeeper could be man of the match and we could be in unlucky situations – but it wasn’t that.
“So that is what disappoints me most and this is what we have to change, we’ve seen this in the last weeks as well.
“We conceded another set-play goal, so all the things, losing a header because we have no timing and the attack, it’s no physicality, no pace, no dribbling, and then it’s tough against any team.
“But, on the other side, I think our U21s would have done better than we have done today. Therefore, things have to be changed.”
Crystal Palace are now winless in their last nine matches across all competitions.
They have suffered six defeats during that run, with their most recent victory coming against Shelbourne in the Conference League on December 11, and Glasner has admitted he is worried about his side heading into the latter half of the campaign.
When asked whether he was concerned by his team’s form, he said: “When you ask me straight after this game, yes, massively.
“On the other side, I know the team and I know we need players back.
“Looks like players who get the chance can’t take it, maybe are not good enough, and it means we need all the others back because I’ve seen, a few weeks ago, a different team playing better.
“We can see if we have five, six new players in the squad like we had today, didn’t train the last month, then we have no structure and the individual quality is not good enough to win.”