Oliver Glasner quizzed on Crystal Palace’s relegation fears

Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner has openly acknowledged that his side are beginning to feel the pressure at the wrong end of the Premier League table following a damaging 3–1 defeat to Chelsea on Sunday.

The result extended Palace’s worrying run without a victory to 11 matches and has intensified concerns that what once appeared to be a comfortable season could yet turn into a tense battle for survival.

At present, Palace occupy 15th position in the league standings. On the surface, that placing suggests a degree of safety, particularly with an eight-point cushion separating them from the relegation zone. However, the wider context of recent results elsewhere in the division has ensured that complacency is not an option. Momentum is building beneath them, and the margins that once looked reassuring are beginning to shrink at an uncomfortable pace.

Over the weekend, both West Ham United and Nottingham Forest recorded vital victories, results that served to tighten the pack in the lower half of the table. Meanwhile, Leeds United, who sit 16th, still have a fixture to play against Everton on Monday night. Should Leeds emerge victorious from that encounter, they would draw level on points with Palace, a scenario that would dramatically increase the sense of jeopardy surrounding the Eagles’ position.

Such a development would place enormous significance on Palace’s upcoming trip to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest. That fixture is already being viewed internally and externally as a classic “six-pointer” — a match that could swing the balance of the relegation fight one way or the other. Defeat in Nottingham would leave Palace perilously close to the bottom three, potentially dropping to fourth from bottom depending on other results, and would further heighten the anxiety around Selhurst Park.

Speaking candidly after the loss to Chelsea, Glasner did not attempt to downplay the seriousness of the situation. Instead, he struck a balanced tone, recognising the risks while also urging calm, perspective, and positivity from everyone connected to the club.

The Austrian coach admitted that Palace are now, to some extent, “looking over their shoulders,” a phrase that perfectly captures the creeping sense of unease that accompanies a prolonged winless run in the Premier League. Yet he was quick to stress that such circumstances are not unique to Palace and that form, rather than league position alone, often dictates how teams feel at this stage of the campaign.

“If this continues, it’s a problem,” Glasner explained. “But that’s for every team in the league if they don’t win in their next 15 games.” His words underlined a broader truth about English football’s top flight: no side can afford an extended drought of results without consequences, regardless of how strong their position may initially appear.

Glasner also highlighted a statistical perspective that he believes is being overlooked amid the growing focus on relegation fears. According to the Palace manager, the gap between his team and the European qualification places is actually smaller than the distance separating them from the relegation zone. While that observation may seem surprising given recent performances, it was offered as a reminder of how congested the Premier League table can be and how quickly narratives can change with a handful of positive results.

“The points gap to the European places is less than to the relegation zone,” Glasner noted, suggesting that Palace’s season should not be framed solely through the lens of survival anxiety. However, he also conceded that perception plays a powerful role in shaping confidence, both inside the dressing room and among supporters.

To reinforce his argument, Glasner drew comparisons with Palace’s situation last season, when the club endured a similarly difficult start. At that time, results were poor, and the league table painted an unflattering picture. Yet, according to the manager, the atmosphere around the club was markedly different.

“Last year we were in more or less the same situation after the terrible start,” he recalled. “But we had a positive mood around the club where we were looking upwards rather than backwards.”

That sense of optimism, Glasner believes, was crucial in helping Palace turn their fortunes around. Instead of fixating on the threat below them, players and staff focused on climbing the table, an approach that ultimately brought stability and relief.

This season, however, Glasner feels the emotional climate has shifted. The prolonged absence of wins has fostered doubt, while constant questions about relegation have altered the collective mindset. Rather than dreaming of progress, there is now a tendency to worry about decline — a psychological shift that Glasner is keen to reverse.

“Now it’s the opposite,” he admitted. “I understand all of the questions.” In saying this, the Palace boss showed empathy for fans, pundits, and journalists alike, acknowledging that scrutiny is inevitable when results fail to arrive. Yet he also issued a subtle warning about the dangers of allowing negativity to dominate the narrative.

According to Glasner, belief and mood are not abstract concepts but practical tools that can influence performance on the pitch. Confidence breeds bravery, and bravery often leads to the kind of decisive moments that can change matches. Conversely, fear can make players tentative, hesitant, and prone to mistakes — a pattern Palace will be desperate to avoid as the pressure mounts.

“But it’s about staying positive,” Glasner stressed. “Otherwise we can’t create the mood that’s needed to get the wins.” This message was clearly aimed not only at his squad but at the wider Palace community, from supporters in the stands to staff behind the scenes.

The defeat to Chelsea itself was another reminder of the fine margins Palace are currently operating within. While the scoreline suggested a comfortable victory for the Blues, there were periods where Palace competed well, only to be undone by lapses in concentration and a lack of cutting edge in key moments. Those shortcomings have become a recurring theme during the winless run, reinforcing the sense that Palace are close to turning performances into points but have yet to make that crucial breakthrough.

With the business end of the season approaching, Glasner knows that patience will be tested. Fixtures against direct rivals, such as the upcoming clash with Nottingham Forest, carry enormous weight, and the psychological challenge of handling such games can be as demanding as the tactical battle itself.

Ultimately, Palace’s fate remains in their own hands. An eight-point buffer still offers room for error, but that margin will quickly erode if results continue to go against them. Glasner’s task, therefore, is not only to improve performances and outcomes but to recalibrate the mindset around the club — shifting the focus from fear of relegation to belief in recovery.

Whether that message resonates strongly enough to spark a turnaround remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that Oliver Glasner is acutely aware of the stakes and determined to confront them head-on, armed with realism, perspective, and an insistence on positivity in the face of growing pressure.