Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner praised his side’s growing maturity and adaptability after a composed 2-0 win over HSK Zrinjski Mostar at Selhurst Park sealed a historic European breakthrough.
Goals from Maxence Lacroix just before the interval and Evann Guessand deep into stoppage time powered the Eagles to a 3-1 aggregate success, booking a place in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Conference League and marking the club’s first-ever major European knockout win.
“A good win – an important win,” said Glasner. “It’s a clinical win.
“I think we learned the lessons from the away game, being more balanced and more patient. I think we controlled the game and just waited for the moments.
“We could have taken the lead a little bit earlier. Twice we were a little bit unlucky, two deflected balls, I think, from Evann Guessand and Daichi Kamada.
“Then, a good set-play, a good free-kick. And then we said at half-time ‘let’s keep the ball speed high and stick to the plan.’ Then, there would be moments when they would be more open and wait for the situations.
“We could have decided the game a bit earlier, it took us into the stoppage time and then Evann Guessand decided the game. A second home win, back-to-back win at home, second clean sheet – a very good win.”
Momentum is clearly swinging Palace’s way, with three victories in their last five outings across all competitions. For Glasner, that uptick has followed a reset after January.
“To be honest, in the last weeks, and we said about it, we had to press the reset button after the January transfer window.
“Since then, we had just 10 terrible minutes against Burnley, everything else is really good. Playing at Nottingham [Forest], getting the draw there; winning at Brighton; winning now twice at home. Not everything is perfect, to be honest, but you can see the players are feeling better and better in the way we are playing.
“Of course, I can see some tactical issues we have to work on, but this will be in the next couple of weeks and months. Now, we have stability again, especially in defence.
“These games in the Conference League are completely different than Premier League games, but it was similar at Nottingham after they conceded a red card, and against Burnley.
“It is challenging for us, we know this, against such a deep block. They are very organised, defending well, but I’m really pleased with this win.”
Beyond the tactics and results, the Selhurst Park atmosphere once again played its part on a landmark European night.
“I said it in the press conference before the game: the fans are always supporting the team and are always behind the team.
“I think Dean Henderson took a great part in the press conference, because he said everybody should enjoy Europe together because it’s the first time. I don’t know how quickly European football will return to Selhurst.
“Of course, now it’s at least one more time, and hopefully the European journey is a very long journey.
“I think this is great support from the beginning until the end. I think this was, and is, one of our biggest strengths: this togetherness.”
With confidence building and history already made, Palace now look ahead eager to see just how far this European adventure can run.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
