Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner seemingly confirmed Eberechi Eze’s departure from the club and said the Eagles must improve their squad before the transfer deadline.
Eze withdrew from Palace’s team ahead of their UEFA Conference League victory over Fredrikstad on Thursday after calling in sick as he closes in on a move to Arsenal.
Glasner said at his pre-match press conference that Eze would start, but speculation developed throughout Thursday that something had changed – and this was confirmed when the Palace team sheet was released with the Palace boss adding: ‘He said he doesn’t feel well’.
And, when pressed on Eze’s absence again after the game, the Austrian told Channel 5: ‘Ebs will not play for us anymore so it does not make sense to talk about him. It’s gone.’
He later told the post-match press conference: ‘I have to apologise to all of you because I didn’t tell the truth yesterday.
‘I thought he would play… he called me and said he didn’t feel well. You have to ask him (why), maybe in a few days. No (I don’t think he will play for the club again).’
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner seemed to confirm Eberechi Eze’s departure from the club
Glasner was bullish after Eze pulled out of Palace’s starting XI ahead of his move to Arsenal
Glasner was in a bullish mood post-match, with left back Borna Sosa and backup goalkeeper Walter Benitez the only two players to arrive at Palace this summer, despite a significant increase in their fixtures with European commitments.
‘We are very late, there are 10 days to go to find the right replacements,’ he continued. ‘Again we could’ve done much better than we did. It’s no criticism, it’s just telling facts, this group is working so hard.
‘I know we can rely on this group but it’s really not the best way to start into the season. No defeat, that’s all good, but I think we are below the edge.’
A clearly frustrated Glasner continued to be asked what Palace need to do in the final days of the window.
‘It’s clear now I can’t do anything,’ he said. ‘I can’t sign the players. We have to act and we need this. This is Crystal Palace’s future.
‘We need to add not numbers, we need the right players. The profile is defined for months, it’s not surprising Ebs left.’
Glasner, who insisted Eze’s late withdrawal did not impact the squad ahead of the game, also sent a warning to the club in regards to Liverpool’s interest in Marc Guehi.
‘I just know if Marc leaves then we cannot register anyone for Fredrikstad (second leg), so from my side he has to stay.
Glasner also joked that if Marc Guehi leaves the club, he may have to play at centre back
‘You see we played Jefferson Lerma at the back today, we have no centre backs available at the moment and if Marc leaves, OK maybe I will try my boots because I was a centre back.’
Palace chairman Steve Parish was also quick to pay tribute to Eze when speaking post match.
He told Channel 5: ‘He’s been fantastic for the club and we’re pleased that he’s going to fulfill the ambitions that he’s got.
‘The King is dead, long live the King. We have to try use the money and give ourselves a stronger base.’
