Oliver Glasner was furious with his Crystal Palace side after their shock FA Cup third-round exit at Macclesfield on Saturday, saying his U21 side could have done better.
In one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history, National League North Macclesfield, formed five years ago from the ashes of Macclesfield Town, started the day 117 places below Palace in the Premier League and became the first non-League side in 117 years to beat the FA Cup holders – ironically since Palace beat Wolves in the Southern League in 1909.
As Macclesfield celebrated a deserved 2-1 success, Palace boss Glasner looked stunned after seeing his side humbly hand over the trophy they won in May – the club’s first major honor – and the Austrian said things had to change.
Speaking with BBCGlasner said: “Congratulations to Macclesfield. We lacked any quality today. We conceded a set-piece with a header – we had to do better. The second goal was a slap in the face.
Jeremy Pino pulls a goal back for Crystal Palace at Macclesfield
“On the other hand, if you can’t create clear-cut chances… that’s just a lack of quality from what we showed today. We lost and we deserved to lose.”
“I was looking for quality from everyone. I brought on more attacking players (at half-time) but I have no explanation for what I saw today.
“You don’t need tactics in games like this. You just need to show what you’re capable of and show some pride and you’ll perform in a different way.”
“But today we missed everything.”
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Macclesfield give their enthusiastic views on a historic FA Cup upset by Crystal Palace
‘U21 would have done better’
When asked what he told his players after the loss, Glasner said TalkSPORT: “Not much.
“I think when you play here against a non-League team, I don’t think you need tactics, I don’t think you need a manager, honestly.
“I’ve been a player for 19 years and I know things like this can happen, but the way we played – their goalkeeper could be the best player and we could be in unfortunate situations – but that wasn’t it.
“That’s what disappoints me the most and that’s what we have to change, we’ve seen that in recent weeks.”
Goalscorer Paul Dawson celebrates with fans after Macclesfield’s shock 2-1 win against Crystal Palace
“We conceded another goal from a set-play, so that’s all, losing a header because we don’t have timing and attack, no physical form, no pace, no dribbling, and then it’s difficult against any team.
“But on the other hand, I think our U21s would have done better than we did today. So things have to change.”
Crystal Palace are now winless in their last nine matches in all competitions.
They have lost six games in that run, with their last win coming against Shelburne in the Conference League on December 11, and Glasner is now worried about his side going into the second half of the season.
Asked if he was worried about his side’s form, he said: “When you ask me right after this game, yes, massively.
Goalscorers Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts celebrate after Macclesfield’s shock FA Cup win against Crystal Palace
“On the other hand, I know the team and I know we need players back.
“It seems the players who get the chance can’t take it, maybe they’re not good enough and that means we need everyone else back because I saw, a few weeks ago, a different team playing better.
“We can see that we have five, six new players in the team like we had today, if we didn’t train last month, then we don’t have the structure and the individual quality is not good enough to win.
‘The palace was a disgrace’
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Clinton Morrison branded Crystal Palace a ‘disgrace’ after Macclesfield knocked them out of the FA Cup.
Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison on Saturday:
“Crystal Palace were nowhere near good enough.”
“Macclesfield were the better team. They were outstanding.
“Palaces were a disgrace. I praise them all the time, but they need to be called out. Not nearly enough.”
“They thought they could just turn up at Macclesfield and win.
“It’s nothing to do with the pitch. It’s about going out there and competing, but Macclesfield wanted that more.”
“It’s an amazing result for Macclesfield.