Matt Thacker
It’s never boring at Crystal Palace. In fact, they might be the only club in the world capable of producing weeks like this.
In the space of seven days, Palace were knocked out of the FA Cup by a non-league side as defending champions, drawn against a Bosnian team in the knockout stages of a European competition, told their greatest ever manager is leaving in July and then saw their captain depart, heading to the team they beat in the FA Cup final – Manchester City. Typical Palace, the fans would say.
It’s been a brutal week, no doubt. But here is the reality check every Palace fan needs.
@forfitnesssake Crystal Palace 17 games unbeaten! Oliver Glasner 👏 #cpfc #premierleague #football #fyp ♬ original sound – For Fitness Sake
One, two, even ten years ago, if you’d been offered an FA Cup, a Community Shield, the club’s highest-ever Premier League points total and European knockout football, you’d have laughed or said you’d eat your hat.
Perspective matters because without it, weeks like this would break you.
The FA Cup exit hurt, but it also reminded us why the competition is still the greatest on the planet. Non-league side Macclesfield beating the holders showcased the magic of the FA Cup at its best. On this occasion, Palace ended up on the wrong end of it, but still played their part in the magic continuing.
Macclesfield deserved their moment and their fans will remember that day forever.
When the commentators reminded us that the last time holders lost to non-league opposition was in 1909, ironically, Palace knocking out Wolves, it felt inevitable.
Earlier on Friday came another landmark moment. Palace were drawn against HŠK Zrinjski Mostar in the UEFA Conference League knockout stages. Palace, having never played in Europe, is now preparing for knockout football. That alone tells you how far this club has come.
Then came the moment everyone feared.
Oliver Glasner announced he would be leaving at the end of the season. To add to that, shortly after it emerged that captain Marc Guéhi would be leaving and joining Manchester City. Suddenly, Palace were front page news – again!
What Glasner has done at Crystal Palace is extraordinary. His impact, his results and the belief he’s instilled will live long beyond his departure. Surely a statue will be built!
Is it devastating that he is leaving, of course. However, fans must remember he’s not gone yet. In his press conference, Glasner was clear – Palace are four points better off than last season, the target is to improve again, plus he wants to win the Conference League. That’s the focus.
This could be their best chance yet at Europa League qualification. The season is far from over and another landmark achievement is within reach.
Now comes the reset.
With the news out in the open, the speculation can finally stop. That constant noise has weighed heavily on the club in recent weeks and has clearly affected performances. Now the clarity brings the chance to refocus.
Chairman Steve Parish has both the opportunity and the time to plan the next chapter. Palace will always be a selling club; that’s the reality outside the so-called big teams. Recruitment has been one of the club’s greatest strengths. The recent signing of Brennan Johnson, a 24-year-old attacker with high-level experience – wants to be at the club; this could be a sign of smart planning continuing.
It might feel terrible right now, but it’s worth remembering that this club almost disappeared in 2010. Sixteen years later, Palace are FA Cup winners, European contenders and an established Premier League side. This is a blip, but Crystal Palace is bigger than any individual and the story never stops delivering drama. As fans across South London say, “We don’t do things the easy way… but we do them the Palace way.”
And when Oliver Glasner does leave, one fan put it best:
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
