Oliver Glasner has denied disrespecting Crystal Palace fans after they held up a banner reading ‘fans disrespected – Glasner finished’ during the 1-0 win over Wolves at Selhurst Park.
The supporters, who displayed a second banner reading ‘opportunities missed – board inept’, were hitting back at the manager for telling them to “be humble” after some turned on him during Thursday’s Conference League draw against Zrinjski Mostar.
There were also taunts of “one-nil to the humble boys” by some fans after Evann Guessand’s 90th-minute goal clinched a narrow win over the Premier League’s bottom side, who had Ladislav Krejci sent off after Dean Henderson had saved a Tolu Arokodare penalty.
Glasner, whose future at the club was thrown into doubt by his pre-match press conference comments, applauded the home fans as he left the pitch at Selhurst Park after the final whistle, and while many applauded back, there were also audible boos.
Glasner said after the game that the club want him to continue as manager until the end of his contract in June and insisted his pre-match comments were misinterpreted.
“It’s the way fans can express their opinion,” he said of the banners, “because otherwise, they can’t tell you.
“It’s completely fine. Everybody can tell what he thinks and I do the same. I say what I think is the right thing.
“There were a few boos and there was a banner. That’s completely fine. But I will always say what I think, what I believe. I think I never disrespected anyone.
“This is why I disagree, because everybody who knows me has a huge respect for everyone, regardless of their position, regardless of their skin colour, regardless of their religion, regardless of everything.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Crystal Palace’s match against Wolves in the Premier League.
“The fans can be disappointed, absolutely. We are disappointed. We are frustrated. And I think I’m the one most of all because I’m so ambitious.
“I want always more and more and more. And I said to the players, I think maybe I pushed too hard. And I take this criticism.
“It’s completely fine. What was important is that they supported the team. They helped to win the game.
“If they feel disrespected, they feel it. I didn’t mean to disrespect anyone. Then it was maybe the wrong words taken.
“But on the other side, I will always say what I think is right, and I’m telling this to my children maybe weekly.
“Stay humble. Never forget where you’re coming from.
“If somebody felt to be disrespected, then I want to say sorry because I never want to disrespect anyone.”
Glasner said he had held clear-the-air talks with the club’s hierarchy and that both they and the Palace players still believe in his capacity to lead the team until the end of the season.
Evann Guessand celebrates after scoring for Crystal Palace against Wolves
“If the club believes they will have a better result, I don’t want to stand in the way,” he said. “This is what I wanted to express.
“If the players believe with a different manager that they will do better, I don’t want to stand in the way, because I can’t do anything, the players have to do it.
“But, as I spoke to the players, they had the best two years of their life, and they are believing in it.
“The club is the same. If the club had said, we are not really convinced, then it would be better to make a change, but it’s completely the opposite.
“The club believes, the players believe. And of course, I always believe in the team.”
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