Oliver Glasner has moved to clarify his relationship with Christantus Uche, rejecting suggestions of a personal rift after the midfielder claimed he was out of favor because “the coach doesn’t like me.”
The 22-year-old, who joined Crystal Palace on loan from Getafe, had earlier opened up on a frustrating spell in south London, where limited opportunities left him questioning his standing within the squad.
But speaking ahead of Palace’s Conference League semi-final clash with Shakhtar Donetsk, Glasner offered a firm but measured response.
“I like him as a person. It’s nothing personal,” the Palace boss said.
Christantus Uche Photocredit: Getty Images
Rather than a breakdown in relationship, Glasner pointed to squad structure and competition for places as the driving forces behind Uche’s reduced role.
Palace’s attacking depth featuring Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eddie Nketiah and Jørgen Strand Larsen was further strengthened in January with the arrival of Brennan Johnson, leaving little room for rotation.
READMORE: Christantus Uche speaks out as Palace struggles end in Getafe return
The decisive moment, according to Glasner, came with squad registration for the latter stages of the Conference League.
“He wasn’t pleased, and I understand that,” Glasner explained.
“But I had to make a decision due to the rules and the players available.”
He added that circumstances could easily have been different.
“If I had known that Eddie Nketiah wouldn’t be fit, then Uche would have been registered.”
While Glasner maintains the situation was purely professional, he acknowledged how the decision may have been received by the player.
“From that day he felt like I don’t like him,” he admitted.
That perception aligns with Uche’s earlier comments, where the Nigerian expressed appreciation to fans but hinted his time at the club was effectively over.
The contrast between both accounts highlights a familiar tension in elite football where managerial decisions, however pragmatic, can feel deeply personal to players on the fringes.
Christantus-Uche. Photocredit: Getty Imges
Uche’s numbers reflect a season that never found rhythm. He made just a handful of appearances, starting only twice against Macclesfield in the FA Cup and Shelbourne in European competition while failing to start a Premier League match.
He has also been absent from recent matchday squads, underlining his marginal role as the campaign enters its final stretch.
That lack of involvement ultimately meant he did not meet the appearance threshold required to trigger a permanent move.
With Toni Muñoz confirming that Uche will return to Getafe at the end of the season, attention now turns to his next step.
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Interest is believed to be emerging across Europe, offering the midfielder a chance to reset after a spell that promised much but delivered little.
For Glasner, the focus remains on maintaining internal harmony.
“I’m always talking to the players directly, not over the media,” he said.
“There are reasons, but I want to keep them in-house.”
