Oliver Glasner didn’t hold back after Crystal Palace’s 5-2 collapse against Manchester City on Saturday, singling out Jean-Philippe Mateta for criticism following a disappointing first-half display.
Palace stunned the Etihad with early goals from Eberechi Eze and Chris Richards, taking a surprise 2-0 lead inside 21 minutes. But that momentum quickly evaporated as Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick kickstarted City’s comeback, followed by goals from Omar Marmoush, Mateo Kovacic, James McAtee, and Nico O’Reilly.
Mateta, who failed to make an impact up front, was hooked at half-time and replaced by Will Hughes. Glasner confirmed post-match that the decision wasn’t injury-related.
“It was a tactical decision,” Glasner told reporters. “We needed more energy, more movement, and more contribution in transition. I wasn’t happy with what I saw.”
The defeat leaves Palace struggling to find consistency under their new manager, with Glasner now facing tough decisions about his attacking setup ahead of the run-in.