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
Crystal Palace Set for European Quarter-Final Clash Against Fiorentina Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has emphasized the significance of their upcoming Conference League quarter-final against Fiorentina, urging his players to embrace the rare opportunity of competing in a European knockout stage. The Eagles, who advanced to the last eight by defeating AEK Larnaca 2-1 on aggregate, will host the Italian side at Selhurst Park in the first leg of the tie. This marks the first-ever meeting between the two clubs in European competition and the first time Palace has faced an Italian team on the continental stage. Glasner highlighted the importance of the match, stating, "It's not every year in your career that you're playing a European quarter-final." The German coach praised his squad's recent form, noting their unbeaten run in the Conference League over six games, including two clean sheets in consecutive home matches. Palace’s last two European fixtures saw them secure a 2-0 victory against Zrinjski and a 0-0 draw with Larnaca, showcasing their defensive resilience and ability to capitalize on opportunities. Fiorentina, meanwhile, are aiming to reach the semi-finals for the fourth consecutive season, a feat unmatched by any other club in the competition. The Italian side will be looking to build on their strong performances in recent seasons, though they face a formidable challenge in Palace. Glasner believes the club’s atmosphere has improved due to their European exploits, with players expressing enthusiasm for the competition. "We enjoyed ourselves, we enjoyed the football, and we enjoyed the intensity [from the last game]," he said. "We have everything we will need to get a good result in the first leg.#conference_league #crystal_palace #fiorentina #oliver_glasner #selhurst_park
Crystal Palace Confident in Creativity Ahead of Larnaca Clash Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner remains optimistic about his team’s ability to generate scoring opportunities in their upcoming Conference League second-leg clash against AEK Larnaca, despite failing to find the net in their previous two encounters with the Cypriot side. The Eagles face a daunting challenge as Larnaca has kept a clean sheet in both meetings this season, having conceded just once across their entire Conference League campaign. Glasner emphasized the need for his players to create multiple chances to overcome the visitors, who have proven difficult to break down. The first leg ended in a goalless draw at Selhurst Park, though Palace dominated possession and shot accuracy, finishing with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.98 from 13 attempts. In contrast, Larnaca managed only 0.23 xG from two shots. Glasner acknowledged the difficulty of facing a team that has consistently defended well against European opponents, noting their ability to neutralize crosses and cut out threats in the box. “We have huge respect for AEK Larnaca,” he said. “All the teams in the UEFA Conference League have struggled to score against them.” The second leg at AEK Arena is poised to be a tightly contested affair, with Larnaca aiming to become the first Cypriot side to eliminate an English team in a knockout stage tie in major European competition. This would mark a historic milestone for the club, as they have yet to achieve such a feat. Palace, meanwhile, will be the second English side to face Larnaca in Cyprus, following West Ham’s 2-0 victory in the 2022-23 Conference League. Glasner also highlighted the importance of Yeremy Pino in the upcoming match, hoping the Colombian forward can rediscover his goal-scoring form.#crystal_palace #uefa_conference_league #oliver_glasner #ae_k_larnaca #yeremy_pino
