Oliver Glasner has moved to set the record straight on Marc Guehi's collapsed deadline day move to Liverpool
Oliver Glasner
Oliver Glasner has rejected suggestions he offered to quit Crystal Palace over Marc Guehi's potential deadline-day exit.
Oliver Glasner has rubbished claims that he threatened to quit as Crystal Palace manager if the club sold Marc Guehi to Liverpool as he moved to set the record straight on the transfer saga. The Reds agreed a £35m deal for the England international, who even started to undergo a medical, only for the Eagles to pull the plug on deadline day after failing to sign a replacement.
It was claimed that Glasner had played a decisive role in Palace’s U-turn, threatening to step down from his post if his captain was sold despite chairman Steve Parish admitting publicly that he would prefer to sell the out-of-contract defender rather than lose him for free at the end of the season.
But the Austrian has dismissed such a notion as he revealed what he really said to Parish to result in Guehi staying at the club.
“I think it’s the last time I want to talk about it,” he said. “Especially the Crystal Palace fans deserve to hear how it really was. So many things were written and told.
“Number one, I never threatened to leave the club. Never.
“And the second thing is, after many discussions, the chairman asked me, ‘Oliver, do you think we can manage the season when we sell Marc?’
“I said: 'Steve, honestly, I think we can’t manage it in the short term if we buy a 19-year-old fantastic player with about 1,000 minutes in Ligue 1 and selling our captain with about 15,000 minutes in the Premier League. I think we can’t manage it short term and if we then have three centre-backs, with our schedule, if we have an injury in the back three, I think it’s very, very risky. If you want this scenario for Crystal Palace and you are fine with it, sell Marc. If you don’t want to have this for Crystal Palace, then we have to keep him'.
“And then he decided we keep him so big credit to the chairman. I didn’t have to threaten anybody.
“There was no bad tensions between the chairman and myself. It was just a discussion about sports.
“And he decided… big credit… he decided against the money and for the sporting prospective of Crystal Palace. So again, big credit to the chairman.”
A new monthly print edition for all LFC fans, September edition on sale now
WELCOME to the second edition of Blood Red – your new monthly publication from the ECHO covering everything you need to know about what’s happening at Liverpool FC.
This month, our focus is on Europe as Liverpool's Champions League campaign kicks off with the Reds looking to bring home European Cup number 7. As well as a pull-out fixtures guide to the group phase, we profile every other club in the competition.
Our writers cover Arne Slot’s side all season long, home, away and abroad, seven days a week, and this special second edition of Blood Red is full of their in-depth features, analysis and comment.
There's also an interview with Voice of Anfield George Sephton who looks back at his time at the club, we review the big tactical talking points of the season's opening games, and we preview the next month of action as the Champions combine their bid to defend their Premier League crown with the start of their mission for Champions League glory.
Available to buy HERE
Glasner also paid tribute to Guehi for his reaction since seeing his move to Liverpool blocked, revealing that he had held talks with the England international as he confirmed he will remain as Palace captain.
“The same big credit to Marc, who handled it very well.” he said.
“So we talked on deadline day, we talked the day after deadline day when he was already in the England camp.
“And we were always having very honest talks with him, the same as before. He arrived then and everybody could see how he played for England, that he’s 100% focussed, the same here.
“It was written he steps back as captain. Nothing true. He will be our captain as long as he’s here because he’s just such a great player and such a great personality.
“So much noise, and at the end, the truth is what I told you now.
“And I think that’s what Crystal Palace fans deserve to know it. This is how it is.”