Henderson urges unity as Palace prepare for Conference League decider with Zrinjski
Dean Henderson urged calm and “unity” as Crystal Palace head into the second leg of their conference league playoff with Zrinjski Mostar, the tie level at 1-1 and set for Thursday.
Henderson fronts a fragile dressing room
Henderson, who became a cult hero after saving a penalty in the FA Cup final against Manchester City last season, has stepped into a leadership role as Palace try to steady a turbulent run of form. He reminded teammates that Palace are playing European football and said the squad must “shift the narrative” after a period in which injuries left the team short-staffed.
The captain’s standing with fans is well established: in August he joined supporters celebrating the Community Shield win over Liverpool and put £1, 000 behind the bar. He was made captain when Marc Guéhi was sold to Manchester City in January following Palace’s humbling in the Cup by non-league Macclesfield.
Conference League second leg in focus
Palace travel to the second leg in Bosnia having drawn 1-1 with Zrinjski in the first meeting, a result that left fans venting frustration during that game and prompting banners at Selhurst Park. The Holmesdale End displayed a banner at the start of Sunday’s 1-0 win over Wolves that targeted the board and described manager Oliver Glasner as “finished”; that victory was only Palace’s second in 16 games.
Glasner has reached an uneasy truce with the club chair to see out his contract until the end of the season, but it was left to Henderson to call for unity before Thursday’s decisive match. Henderson also warned players linked with moves — including Jean-Philippe Mateta, Adam Wharton, Daniel Muñoz and Daichi Kamada — that they must perform if they want transfers to materialize.
Team news, line-ups and the immediate stakes
Palace go into the second leg with a number of absences: Lacroix is doubtful while Doucoure, Lerma, Nketiah and Mateta are out. Zrinjski are without Sunjic and list Bilbija as doubtful. Predicted Palace personnel in a 3-4-3 shape included Henderson in goal with Canvot, Richards and Riad across the back and Munoz, Wharton, Kamada and Sosa in midfield; Sarr, Strand Larsen and Johnson were named up front.
Zrinjski were projected in a 4-2-3-1 with G. Karacic in goal and a back four of Vranjkovic, Barisic, Dujmovic and Mamic; their midfield and attack names included Djurasek, Savic, Abramovic, Ivancic, Mikic and Cuze.
Glasner stressed the competition’s stage, saying Palace are at the “round of last 32” and that it made little sense to speak of lifting the trophy now — a reminder that Thursday’s second leg is the immediate objective.
What Henderson and Glasner have said and what comes next
Henderson reiterated that players must take responsibility for recent form and noted that injuries had left Palace unable to cope with a heavy schedule. He also noted he is expected to be Jordan Pickford’s backup at the World Cup, underscoring the international commitments in play as Palace balance domestic and European fixtures.
Glasner highlighted workload as a factor in dips in form, pointing out that Adam Wharton had already played more than 1, 000 minutes more than he did last season because of Palace’s conference league involvement.
The second leg against Zrinjski Mostar on Thursday is the next confirmed event on Palace’s calendar and will decide who progresses to the round of 16; Henderson has asked fans and players to unite for that match.
