Glasner Urges Crystal Palace to Win Conference League Final and Claim Europa League Spot

The Lead

Oliver Glasner has urged Crystal Palace to win the Conference League final so they can take up the Europa League place denied them this season after they fell foul of Uefa's multi-club ownership rules. The Austrian manager, who is leaving at the end of the season, wants his players to secure European football for next year by defeating Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig.

The Final Showdown

Crystal Palace will face Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig on Wednesday night at the end of their first European campaign in Glasner's last match. The south London club, last year's FA Cup winners and Community Shield holders, were demoted to the Conference League after Uefa deemed John Textor had a controlling interest in both Palace and Lyon, who had also qualified for the secondary competition.

Manager's Final Message

Glasner, who previously won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022, confirmed in January that he would leave at the end of the season. The manager revealed that Palace players had held a farewell party for him on Monday, when he backed them to win a third trophy in 12 months and secure a Europa League spot. "The best thing would be of course winning tomorrow because then the players would be in the Europa League next year and then we get what we should have got this year," he said.

Transition Period

Palace are hopeful of appointing Andoni Iraola as Glasner's replacement, although it is understood that the outgoing Bournemouth manager also has interest from Milan and Bayer Leverkusen. Pierre Sage, who led Lens to second place in Ligue 1 this season, is understood to be a contender if Iraola turns them down. The Palace captain, Dean Henderson, said losing Glasner would be "a huge miss" and noted that players had created a send-off video expressing their feelings.

Fan Support

More than 15,000 Palace supporters are expected in Leipzig, where a replica trophy has been on display at the city's Marketplatz. The team captain emphasized the special connection between the players and supporters that has developed under Glasner's management. "The team's got a special connection with the supporters and when I joined the football club I felt like that was distant," Henderson said. "It's good to see since the manager has come in we've built that rapport with the supporters because I think it's important. They can really help us tomorrow night."

Opponent's Perspective

Rayo Vallecano, managed by Iñigo Pérez (Iraola's former assistant), operate on a fifth of Palace's budget. Pérez acknowledged the financial disparity but emphasized his team's shared football traits with Palace. "I think we share football traits with Crystal Palace," he said. "The effort, the collective … For me, Crystal Palace is a dream rival. I think that beyond the money comparisons, we must represent the Vallecas neighbourhood. Maintaining our identity will be the right approach."