Oliver Glasner admitted he has “no explanation” for Crystal Palace’s “lack of quality” in their FA Cup third-round 2-1 defeat at Macclesfield, and said his side “deserved to lose.”
The FA Cup holders fell at the first hurdle on Saturday, suffering arguably the competition’s greatest-ever upset against an opponent 117 league places lower down the pyramid.
It proved to be a magical moment for the non-league Silkmen, who are still grieving the loss of their forward Ethan McLeod after the 21-year-old was killed in a car accident while returning from their match at Bedford Town on December 16.
Speaking after full-time, Glasner congratulated Macclesfield on their victory - the first time the FA Cup holders had lost to non-league opposition since Palace themselves, then in the Southern League, beat Wolves back in 1909 - before launching into a seething assessment of his team’s performance.
“We had no kind of quality today, I saw no one who could win a dribble,” the Eagles boss began.
“If you can't create clear chances, it is a lack of quality that we have shown today. We deserved to lose."
Glasner described Macclesfield’s second goal - which came after Palace made three ineffectual half-time changes - as “slapstick” and reiterated that he has “no explanation” for the result.
“We can find excuses but you don't need tactics and a manager for these games. I think if you just show what you are capable of and show pride, then you perform in a different way,” he said, adding that however he tried to explain the performance “would be wrong”.
“I think when we played with our Under-21s team, they’d do better than we did today.”
Macclesfield, reformed in 2020 after Macclesfield Town were wound up, paid tribute to McLeod with a spirited showing against a Palace side boasting multiple England internationals.
Manager John Rooney said he “couldn't be any prouder of the lads.”
"We were incredible from the first minute,” said the 35-year-old, who took the reins following Robbie Savage’s departure over the summer and his own retirement as a player.
“I thought we were deserved winners.”
Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, who scored his side’s decisive second goal of the game, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I'm feeling very good right now, it's not setting in yet.
“We won in the FA Cup, it's a surreal feeling.”
He added: "It's a family feeling because everyone's here together. We're going to gather round and enjoy the moment for what it is. I'm lost for words."
