Oliver Glasner brought the curtain down on a remarkable Crystal Palace era after guiding the Eagles to their first-ever European trophy with Conference League success.
The Palace boss leaves Selhurst Park having delivered the most successful period in the club’s history, adding the Conference League title to FA Cup and Community Shield glory within an unforgettable 12-month spell.
An emotional Glasner admitted the magnitude of the occasion had not fully sunk in after Palace’s triumph over Rayo Vallecano.
“I can’t even believe that this was the last game,” he said.
“But yes, I took this decision, and I think it’s a chapter, it’s, I think it’s a good chapter to read in the Crystal Palace book, but other chapters will follow.”
The Austrian manager praised his players for finally securing the European stage he believed they deserved following their domestic cup success.
“It’s the same, I said to the players, get now what you deserve after winning the FA Cup, that’s the Europa League.
“So I think now it’s with a one-year delay, the club, the fans, the players did get what they deserved after winning the Europa League.”
Glasner suggested Palace’s difficult path only made the achievement even more rewarding as the club secured a long-awaited return to elite European competition.
“So sometimes, okay, you have to take a round trip, and now we are there. Crystal Palace is where they should be.”
The former Eintracht Frankfurt boss also praised his team’s performance in the final, highlighting Palace’s dominant spell after the interval.
“I have to forward the congratulations to the players, to the team, because it was the game that we expected, but I think we played incredible 15 minutes after half-time, where we scored the goal, where we could have decided it.”
Palace survived late pressure to seal a famous victory, capping off a historic night for the club and supporters.
“Then at the end we defended so well, fantastic evening, and I think it’s really this group of players, this club, these fans deserve to win the Conference League, and that’s why I’m really, really pleased tonight.”
Glasner now departs having transformed Crystal Palace from Premier League survivors into genuine trophy winners, leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered for generations at Selhurst Park.
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