Glasner clears air after Palace ‘thunderstorm’
Oliver Glasner has revealed he had a “long dinner” with the Crystal Palace chair, Steve Parish, this week to resolve their differences and has insisted he is “100% committed” to seeing out his contract until the end of the season.
Glasner accused Parish and the Palace board of abandoning him and his squad after they told him the captain, Marc Guéhi, would be sold to Manchester City the day before they were due to face Sunderland. A 2-1 defeat at the Stadium of Light made it 10 games without a victory under the Austrian, who had confirmed before the game that he would be leaving in the summer.
Parish decided against sacking Glasner over his outburst and the 51-year-old is hoping the return of Ismaïla Sarr from the Africa Cup of Nations and Daniel Muñoz from injury can help to lift spirits after a difficult fortnight. “I was quite emotional after the game and I think it shows how much the players, how much Crystal Palace means to me,” Glasner said.
“I agreed one year ago in February to sell Marc. It’s all about timing and replacement. That was the whole situation. I know that Crystal Palace will always sell players if they have big offers from other clubs. But it was just the situation, telling the team 28 hours before a Premier League game that the captain is leaving. This was my feeling at that moment and this is what I tried to express. I know it feels like criticism, but for me it was just telling the feelings, the emotions I had, the team had.”
He added: “I had a very long dinner with Steve this week and we talked about this situation. Not to sell Marc, it’s the timing and the possible replacement. This was the situation I wanted to explain and the talk was a very good talk for both of us. But nothing changed what I said at the press conference before the Sunderland game, when I said I will give my best to play a great season. Steve and I are 100% committed that we will do our best to have a great rest of the season, a great four months together.
“Dani Muñoz came back at the beginning of the week. Ismaïla Sarr came back as an Afcon winner from Senegal. Now we are preparing for the rest of the season. It was a thunderstorm, but always after a thunderstorm the sun is shining.”
Glasner also denied Jean-Philippe Mateta had submitted a transfer request, with Aston Villa and Juventus interested in signing the striker this month, and said Mateta would start against Chelsea on Sunday. “To be very clear, he didn’t hand in a transfer request, and we have no bid received right now,” said Glasner. “I think with every player there is a price where a club says: ‘OK, we agree to a deal.’ But again, no bid came in, and he didn’t hand in a transfer request, so he will play tomorrow.” Ed Aarons
Frank eyeing European union after Tel trouble
Thomas Frank has called on Uefa to increase Champions League squad sizes after cutting Mathys Tel from Tottenham’s European roster for the second time this season. Tel was dropped for the midweek win over Borussia Dortmund to enable Dominic Solanke’s return from injury, and will not be available for next week’s final league stage game at Eintracht Frankfurt, where a win would guarantee Spurs a spot in the last 16.
The 20-year-old French forward was omitted from Tottenham’s Champions League list in September because a lack of homegrown players meant Frank was unable to name a full squad of 25, but a new rule meant he was handed a reprieve in December after an injury to Solanke and played against Slavia Prague. With Solanke fit, Frank was forced to choose between the two for Tottenham’s final two games of the league phase.
Clubs qualifying for the knockout stages can make three changes to their squad before 5 February, but not beyond the 25-man limit for A-list players born before 2004. If a club has fewer than eight homegrown players, their squad size is reduced accordingly. Uefa’s squad rules were introduced almost 20 years ago and Frank feels they should be updated to reflect an expanded Champions League schedule.
“It’s something that Uefa need to look into to modernise those rules in general,” the head coach said. “When they made the rules we had six group games, now we have eight. Before, we had no games in January, and a lot of the group stage was done after four games. Now with the new format every team needs to fight until the end.
“We also have gone up from three to five substitutions, which means you use more players. For the Euros and the World Cup we have bigger squads. This is something that we need to look into that would have helped the situation with Mathys. Also, with the changes we can do after January, it’s only three players. I can’t see why that shouldn’t be more. Why can’t you change during the season if you have injuries?”
Frank said Tottenham’s co-sporting director, Johan Lange, had raised the issue at Premier League level, with a number of clubs in agreement and planning to propose a change at a meeting of Uefa’s club competitions committee. If endorsed there the proposal would go to a vote of Uefa’s executive committee.
Lucas Bergvall has had ankle surgery and is expected to be out for up to three months. Matt Hughes
Rosenior believes Palmer will make World Cup
Liam Rosenior has backed Cole Palmer to make England’s World Cup squad if the Chelsea playmaker returns to full fitness and hits top form. Palmer has missed much of the season with a persistent groin problem, remains unable to play three full games a week and faces a battle to force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s plans this summer. He missed Chelsea’s win over Pafos on Wednesday and his struggle to build momentum could count against him given England’s embarrassment of riches in attacking midfield.
However, Rosenior has the 23-year-old available for Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace and is confident Palmer’s fortunes will improve before Tuchel names his 26-man World Cup squad. “The reality for Cole is that if he performs at his level, he will be in,” Chelsea’s head coach said. “It’s very simple. If he performs at his natural level, when he is fit, I’ve got no doubts at all that everything he wants in his career will come for him. Our job in the short term is to get him into the place where he can go and enjoy himself on the pitch.”
Palmer scored a penalty during Chelsea’s win against Brentford last weekend but looked frustrated for much of the game. Speculation that he is unhappy in London and wants to return to Manchester has mounted this week. But Rosenior attributed the former Manchester City attacker’s frustrated demeanour against Brentford to pain preventing him from performing at his best.
“A fully fit Cole, firing, I wouldn’t change him for any player in world football in his position,” Rosenior said. “My job is to support him. Not just me. The staff, the medical team, the players. To make sure he can not feel frustrated. It’s good he’s frustrated because he wants to do well for the club. But I don’t want him to feel like he has to push himself to the point of pain, when we’re in January. That’s crazy. So I want to look after him. I’ve had great conversations with him so far, and I will continue to look after him.”
Chelsea have been fined £150,000 after a bottle was thrown at the Aston Villa bench at Stamford Bridge last month. The incident occurred after Villa’s 2-1 win and led to a complaint from the club. The Football Association has found Chelsea guilty of failing to ensure their “players and/or other relevant personnel around the technical area did not behave in an improper and/or provocative and/or abusive way after the final whistle”.
Stuart Attwell, the referee, told the FA’s independent regulatory commission that he was told after full time of someone on Chelsea’s bench throwing a plastic bottle in the direction of Villa’s dugout. Chelsea admitted the charge, although the investigation was unable to identify the individual responsible. The club and the FA analysed footage showing the bottle being thrown from the home bench. Jacob Steinberg
Carrick backs Mainoo as key to United’s future
Michael Carrick has backed Kobbie Mainoo, saying the academy graduate is vital to maintain the foundations of Manchester United. Carrick gave the 20-year-old a first Premier League start of the season in last Saturday’s 2-0 win over Manchester City, the midfielder impressing after previously falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim. The interim manager believes Mainoo is the prime example of the type of player who is crucial to United’s future.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with Kobbie,” said Carrick. “I’ve known him since he was young. This club needs young players coming through and being the foundation for understanding what the club means – not just for the players or the squad, but for the club and for the supporters. It’s something that we need to grasp and we need to keep building on. Kobbie’s a prime example, to come through so quickly and have his rapid rise is impressive.”
Mainoo joined United when he was six, and made his debut at 17 in a 3-0 EFL Cup win over Charlton in January 2023. He scored in the following season’s 2-1 FA Cup final victory against Manchester City and started for England in that summer’s 2-1 Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain.
Carrick said: “To impact those big games at such a young age shows an awful lot of quality in terms of the character and to be able to handle it. Part of a career is a few ups and downs and sometimes it goes in different trajectories. But I think we’ve seen last week what Kobbie can bring. It was great [against City]. He’s quite straight-faced and he doesn’t give you an awful lot, but you could see the way he played and he expressed himself. He was enjoying himself and to see him like that was great.”
Carrick has been appointed only until the end of the season, and it is unclear if his input on strengthening the squad will be considered. “Looking too far down the track hasn’t happened just yet – I think it’s been the initial thoughts of what’s happening now,” he said. “The important thing for me is any decision I make or my staff make or the club make – it’s not short-term, not just to get through to the end of the season.
“I’ve got responsibility for whatever happens next for the club to make sure it is in a good place and moving forward. So, as time goes on I’m sure I’ll be part of it and we’ll work our way through it.” Jamie Jackson
Haaland doesn’t have to say sorry – Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has defended Erling Haaland, saying the striker has nothing to apologise for amid a poor run in front of goal. The Norwegian has scored once in his past eight Manchester City appearances and said sorry for not finding the net in Tuesday’s defeat at Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League.
City host bottom-placed Wolves on Saturday, seeking a result to re-energise their season, and hope to get Haaland back in form. Guardiola’s side are winless in four Premier League games, convincingly defeated by Manchester United last week after three straight draws. Haaland has scored 39 goals in 36 matches for City and Norway this season despite the relatively barren patch in which his only goal has come from a penalty.
“He [doesn’t have] to apologise,” Guardiola said. “He has to do his best and he is trying. When the team doesn’t win it doesn’t belong to one player. It is for everyone. You only apologise to yourself if you didn’t give everything but it is not necessary.”
Another player below their best is Rodri, who was sent off against Bodø, having had numerous injuries over the past 14 months. A cruciate ligament injury forced him to miss most of last season and muscle problems have since limited his playing time. “Eleven months injured, give him time,” Guardiola said. “He remains the best, he needs time to recover.”
City begin the weekend second, seven points behind the leaders, Arsenal, whom Guardiola described as “the best team in the world right now”, adding: “In the Champions League, in the Premier League, look in [the] FA Cup, in Carabao Cup – it’s the best team right now. Hopefully we can be close and getting better, getting better and have the chance to catch them.”
Marc Guéhi will make his debut after his £20m move from Crystal Palace and his fellow new signing Antoine Semenyo is available too. City’s manager is desperate to have a clean bill of health for the decisive part of the season. “We are in the semi-finals in the Carabao Cup, we are in the FA Cup [fourth round], and the league is a little bit away, especially with the strong team that we have in front of us. But at least we are there, qualified. When we arrive in February, March, all I ask is not the opponent, it is to have the team back. After that,” he said jokingly, “I swear, we will be there [at our best] … because we spent a lot of money.” Will Unwin
Moyes reeling from Grealish blow
David Moyes admitted it was a “big blow” to lose the on-loan winger Jack Grealish to a broken foot that has left a question mark over his immediate future at Everton. The Manchester City forward was injured in last weekend’s win at Aston Villa and diagnosed with a stress fracture after seeing a specialist, who will conduct further examinations before providing an estimate on how long he will be sidelined. Not only is it a setback for Everton, whose loan agreement includes a £50m option to buy, but for any hope the player had of making a late bid for the World Cup.
“It’s not for me to give the timescales – we’ve not got it yet from the doctors – but he has a stress fracture in his foot, that’s all I can tell you,” said Moyes. “It’s a big blow because he’s been hugely important to us since the start of the season, he’s played a big part in the team.”
Speculation this week suggested the layoff could be as long as three months, but Moyes added: “I wouldn’t say anything here at the moment. I wouldn’t speculate and I wouldn’t put any numbers to it.” PA Media
Abraham on verge of Villa return
Aston Villa are increasingly optimistic of re-signing Tammy Abraham as Unai Emery continues to reshape his squad with the club still competing on three fronts. Abraham is on loan at Besiktas from the Serie A side Roma. Emery has targeted an established No 9 this month to bolster his attack.
The 28-year-old was on loan at Villa in 2018-19, when he scored 26 goals in 40 appearances on loan from Chelsea at the then Championship side. Abraham left Chelsea in 2021, joining Roma in a £34m deal. Villa are also prioritising a midfielder before the transfer window shuts. They are interested in a loan deal for Ruben Loftus-Cheek with the key duo Boubacar Kamara and John McGinn both sidelined with knee injuries. It is feared Kamara could miss the rest of the season. Ben Fisher
