Oliver Glasner’s lengthy farewell at Crystal Palace sets up what he calls a ‘perfect’ finale.
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Image caption: Crystal Palace will meet Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final on 27 May.
Crystal Palace initially had no desire to compete in the Conference League, but now they stand just one match away from winning it and adding another chapter to the club’s history.
On one of the most electrifying nights ever witnessed at a vibrant Selhurst Park, the Eagles defeated Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1, securing a 5-2 aggregate victory in the semi-finals.
After lifting the FA Cup and Community Shield at Wembley in 2025, their remarkable European adventure began in a Swiss courtroom, where they unsuccessfully appealed against being demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League. Since then, Palace have never looked back.
Their journey has taken them to Norway, Poland, France, the Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Italy, and back to Poland, with one final destination remaining – the final in Germany.
Should Palace triumph on Wednesday, 27 May, in Leipzig against Spanish side Rayo Vallecano – who overcame Gary O’Neil’s Strasbourg 2-0 on aggregate in their semi-final – it would mark an unprecedented period of success for the club.
Manager Oliver Glasner, who will leave in the summer after being appointed in February 2024, is on the verge of securing a third trophy during this remarkable spell. Even the 51-year-old is amazed by what has been achieved.
“I spoke to the chairman before the match – he always comes into my office,” Glasner said afterward. “I asked, ‘Did you ever imagine we would be playing in the semi-final of a European competition?’ He said no.
“I told him, ‘When we first spoke three years ago, I never thought about it either.’ This is what you achieve when you work hard and stick together through tough moments, and we have faced a few. When you remain united during difficult times, you get your reward.”
Crystal Palace beat Shakhtar to reach Conference League final.
English clubs reach all three European finals for the first time.
**Electric Atmosphere at Selhurst Park**
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Image caption: Ismaila Sarr scored his ninth goal of the Conference League, becoming the competition’s top scorer.
At Selhurst Park on Thursday, the atmosphere reached fever pitch.
“I truly enjoy the European nights here,” Glasner said. “We had to grow into the competition, and the fans grew along with us. If you look back at our start against Larnaca, the level of excitement has just kept increasing.”
While Shakhtar’s fans bounced in one corner, the home supporters played a huge part in creating a fantastic mood, with everyone clapping and cheering.
Never has the club anthem “Glad All Over” been sung louder at Selhurst, enhanced further by pyrotechnics that added to the party atmosphere.
“It was a fantastic atmosphere and a great night at Selhurst,” Glasner added. “It’s a huge achievement, and great credit goes to the players. Everyone could see how good Shakhtar are.”
Goalkeeper and captain Dean Henderson summed up the mood: “It’s incredible for the football club. You see the connection between the players and the supporters – it’s fantastic. It’s unbelievable.
“When you come off a game like the FA Cup final, it gives you confidence and makes you hungry. We also have an ambitious group of players.
“It’s pretty incredible, honestly, to reach a European competition with Crystal Palace, let alone make the final. We need to deliver something special. We also want to get back what we deserve – Europa League qualification.”
**A Golden Period in the Club’s 121-Year History**
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Image caption: Goalkeeper Dean Henderson grabbed a megaphone from the fans to celebrate with them after the game.
Since Palace were founded in 1905, trophies have been hard to come by.
