‘Because we’re not playing internationally’: Oliver Glasner gives honest reason behind Crystal Palace exit for Nottingham Forest

‘Because we’re not playing internationally’: Oliver Glasner gives honest reason behind Crystal Palace exit for Nottingham Forest

Oliver Glasner has given a remarkably honest explanation for his decision to leave Crystal Palace and take charge of Nottingham Forest, admitting that a move to the City Ground was not originally part of his plans.

The Austrian manager’s appointment at Forest raised plenty of eyebrows during the summer, particularly because he had just enjoyed a successful spell at Crystal Palace.

Glasner had helped transform Palace into a competitive Premier League side and guided the Eagles to major silverware, making his eventual departure something of a surprise.

His decision was even more difficult for some supporters to understand because Palace were heading into European competition, while Forest were not.

Glasner has now addressed the issue directly and admitted that European football was an important factor in his thinking when he initially considered his next move.

The 51-year-old explained that his intention was to remain in the Premier League after leaving Palace, having thoroughly enjoyed his time in England.

However, Forest were not initially among the clubs he had been considering.

According to Glasner, the situation changed when Nottingham Forest approached him.

The Austrian admitted that he was initially unsure about the opportunity because Forest were not competing in European football.

That made the job appear different from the kind of next step he had originally envisioned after leaving Palace.

However, Glasner did not immediately dismiss the possibility.

Instead, he began examining Forest’s squad and quickly became convinced that the team possessed considerably more potential than their recent league position suggested.

Forest had endured a difficult domestic campaign, eventually finishing 16th in the Premier League. Yet they had shown a very different level of quality in Europe, reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League.

That run appears to have played a significant role in changing Glasner’s perception of the club.

The manager also revealed that his meeting with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was crucial to his final decision.

Glasner and Marinakis reportedly held a lengthy meeting in Athens, where they discussed the club’s ambitions and the possibility of building something significant together.

That conversation ultimately gave Glasner the feeling that Nottingham Forest could become an exciting long-term project.

For the former Palace boss, it was not simply about accepting the next available job. He wanted to feel that there was potential to build something meaningful, and Forest’s ambitions convinced him that the opportunity was worth taking.

The appointment has nevertheless remained a controversial subject among some Palace supporters.

Glasner had become a hugely popular figure at Selhurst Park after delivering historic success, and his departure naturally left some fans disappointed.

There has also been debate over whether moving from Palace to Forest represented a step backwards for a manager who had just enjoyed considerable success.

But Glasner’s comments suggest that his decision was more complicated than simply choosing Forest over Palace.

He was initially looking for a different kind of opportunity, but the combination of Forest’s squad, their European run, the club’s potential and Marinakis’ ambitions persuaded him to change his mind.

The Austrian now faces the challenge of proving that his decision was the correct one.

Forest will be hoping that Glasner can reproduce the transformation he achieved at Crystal Palace and build a team capable of competing much higher up the Premier League table.

The manager has already begun reshaping the squad, with players familiar with his methods arriving to help implement his style.

For Glasner, the absence of European football this season may have been one of the reasons Forest were initially not on his radar.

But it was ultimately the possibility of creating something bigger that convinced him.

And if he can guide Forest back into European competition in the future, the decision to leave Palace could eventually prove to have been an important turning point in his managerial career.