“If we meet next time”- Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner offered a candid and eye-catching reaction following his team’s 3–0 Premier League loss to Manchester City, delivering an assessment that challenged expectations despite the heavy defeat.

Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner delivered a striking assessment after his side’s 3–0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City, insisting that the performance at Selhurst Park was actually stronger than the display that brought the club historic FA Cup glory against the same opponents just months earlier.

Despite the emphatic scoreline, Glasner maintained that Palace showed greater control, attacking intent, and overall balance against Pep Guardiola’s champions than they did in the Wembley final in May, where the Eagles stunned City to lift the first major trophy in the club’s history. On Sunday, however, Palace were left empty-handed, undone by ruthless finishing and clinical moments from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden.

City’s victory was powered by two goals from Haaland — further reinforcing his reputation as the most lethal striker in world football — while Foden continued his superb run of form with another composed finish. Yet the numbers beneath the surface painted a far more complex picture than the scoreboard suggested.

Palace matched City stride for stride for large spells and, remarkably, outshot the visitors 16 to seven over the course of the match. They also came out on top in the expected goals (xG) metric, registering 2.08 compared to City’s 1.18 — a rare statistical feat against Guardiola’s side and one that underlined Palace’s attacking threat.

The Eagles were also unfortunate not to score, striking the woodwork on two separate occasions. Yeremy Pino came closest in the first half with an effort that rattled the frame of the goal, before Adam Wharton repeated the feat after the interval. It marked the second time this season Palace have hit the woodwork more than once in a single Premier League fixture, having done so previously against West Ham United in September.

In total, Palace have now struck the woodwork eight times this league campaign, placing them among the most unlucky sides in the division in that regard. Only Manchester United and Newcastle United, with nine apiece, have hit the post or crossbar more often.

The contrast with May’s FA Cup final could not have been sharper in terms of performance metrics. On that occasion, Palace were under siege for long periods at Wembley, managing just seven shots compared to City’s 23. The expected goals tally reflected City’s dominance, with Palace losing the xG battle 2.23 to 0.74. What made the difference that day was efficiency, defensive resilience, and a rare off-day in front of goal for Guardiola’s men.

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day after Sunday’s defeat, Glasner acknowledged the strange emotions that came with such a performance.

“It feels a little bit wrong, but we have to accept it,” he admitted. “This is how big games are decided. It was small margins.”

The Palace boss was quick to highlight where the contest was ultimately settled — in both penalty areas — despite his side’s territorial and statistical superiority.

“I think City were better in the boxes,” Glasner continued. “We had 16 shots and losing 3–0 is a tough moment. We will take our lessons from this game. We need these games to grow and develop and progress.”

For long periods, Palace pressed high, moved the ball with confidence, and disrupted City’s rhythm in midfield. Wharton and Daichi Kamada, in particular, were influential in central areas, helping Palace transition quickly from defence to attack and create clear openings.

Glasner felt his team were only one moment away from changing the course of the game.

“We had three or four big chances, and we tried to get our goal and get back into the game,” he said. “It felt like if we got it, something could happen.”

That sense of missed opportunity was magnified by City’s ability to punish Palace’s smallest lapses. Haaland’s opening goal was a classic illustration of why he remains so devastating.

“Their first goal — it’s a great cross, great movement and great header,” Glasner explained. “That is why it is Haaland and why he scores 40 goals a season.”

City’s efficiency stood in stark contrast to Palace’s profligacy. While the hosts created volume and quality, Guardiola’s side needed far fewer opportunities to put the game beyond doubt. Once Foden added a second and Haaland struck again, the contest was effectively settled, despite Palace continuing to threaten.

Perhaps Glasner’s most eye-catching comment came when he directly compared Sunday’s defeat with the FA Cup final triumph.

“The performance today was better than the FA Cup final,” he said. “But then, we had the efficiency and City missed it.”

It was a candid reflection that spoke volumes about Glasner’s philosophy. The Austrian coach values structure, bravery in possession, and proactive football — even against elite opposition — and believes those qualities were on fuller display at Selhurst Park than they were at Wembley, where Palace relied heavily on organisation and moments rather than sustained attacking play.

While the performance offered encouragement, the match was not without its setbacks. Palace suffered a significant blow midway through the second half when Daichi Kamada was forced off with a hamstring injury after overstretching during a challenge.

The Japan international had been one of Palace’s standout performers on the night, linking midfield and attack intelligently and forming an effective partnership with Wharton. His withdrawal disrupted Palace’s rhythm and added a sour note to an already frustrating evening.

“That is the most disappointing part from this game,” Glasner admitted. “He was so good with Adam Wharton today. He overstretched and the hamstring got injured.”

The Palace manager confirmed that the full extent of the injury would be assessed in the coming days, but he did not hide his concern.

“We will assess him tomorrow,” Glasner said. “It hurts because it looks like we will miss him now for a little bit longer.”

Kamada’s potential absence could prove costly, particularly given his growing influence in Glasner’s system and Palace’s already stretched midfield options. His intelligence, composure, and ability to find pockets of space have been central to Palace’s attacking evolution this season.

Despite the disappointment of defeat, Glasner remained adamant that performances like this are essential to the club’s long-term development.

“These games are important for us,” he said. “We need them to grow.”

While the result will be recorded as a comprehensive loss, the underlying data and Glasner’s post-match reflections suggest a team moving in the right direction — one capable of going toe-to-toe with the Premier League’s elite, even if the final outcome does not always reflect the balance of play.

For Palace supporters, there was frustration, but also reason for optimism. The Eagles did not sit back, did not shrink under pressure, and did not abandon their principles. Instead, they tested the champions, created chances, and pushed City harder than many sides manage over a full 90 minutes.

In football, results define narratives. But as Glasner’s assessment made clear, progress is not always measured in goals or points alone. Sometimes, it is found in performances that suggest a team is closer to consistency, belief, and genuine competitiveness at the highest level.

On this occasion, Palace left Selhurst Park without a goal or a reward — but with the conviction that they are becoming something stronger than the team that lifted silverware in May.