Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner: 'Huge Desire' to Reach Conference League Final Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has emphasized the squad's "huge desire" to progress in the UEFA Conference League, as the club prepares to face Shakhtar Donetsk in the semifinal. The match, set for Thursday evening in Krakow, Poland, will be the first leg of a two-legged tie, with the second leg scheduled at Selhurst Park next week. Glasner, who previously led Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League glory in 2022, is now aiming for his second European trophy with Palace. The tie marks a significant step for Crystal Palace, who secured their first major trophy last season by winning the FA Cup. Glasner acknowledged the heightened stakes of the semifinal, stating, "The closer you come, the more you want it." He highlighted the importance of reaching the final, noting that "nobody will say it's fine playing a semifinal and losing." While the focus remains on the upcoming match, Glasner stressed the need to avoid overthinking the outcome, emphasizing that "we try to focus on what we have to do on the pitch to get the best possible result." The other semifinal matchup features Spanish side Rayo Vallecano facing French club Strasbourg. Glasner expressed respect for Shakhtar Donetsk, acknowledging their strength in the competition. "We have huge desire, we have the confidence and the belief we can win against Shakhtar, but we always have huge respect for the way they play," he said. This sentiment reflects the competitive nature of the Conference League, where teams like Shakhtar, known for their attacking style, pose a formidable challenge. Glasner’s approach to the match also underscores his philosophy of maintaining Crystal Palace’s identity.#crystal_palace #oliver_glasner #uefa_confrence_league #shakhtar_donetsk #krakow
