Crystal Palace Vs Zrinjski: Glasner weathers media storm as Palace reach Conference League last 16
Crystal Palace Vs Zrinjski ended with a 2-0 win at Selhurst Park that sealed a 3-1 aggregate victory and sent Palace into the Conference League last 16, a result that arrives amid intense scrutiny of manager Oliver Glasner and a season of major off-field movement. The club will learn its next opponent in a draw on Friday at 13: 00 GMT (time in ET unclear in the provided context).
Crystal Palace Vs Zrinjski: Selhurst Park goals and first-leg drama
Maxence Lacroix and Evann Guessand scored the goals as Palace beat Zrinjski 2-0 at Selhurst Park to complete a 3-1 aggregate success. The tie followed a 1-1 draw away in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first leg, a result the team were described as fortunate to escape from; it was noted the tie could have swung the other way if Zrinjski had equalised shortly before Guessand settled the tie late on.
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Glasner admits his words sparked a media storm and insists his position is secure
Oliver Glasner acknowledged he had sparked a media storm, saying he may have given some interviews that were "not helpful" and that he sometimes has to speak out because "if I feel something, I have to say it. " He told club leaders he had been "abandoned" by the board after announcing in January he would leave at the end of the season, a sequence that appeared to signal the end of his tenure before he ultimately stayed.
Asked if he had assurance of his job from his bosses, Glasner said "100%" and added: "There's so much noise, sometimes you really don't understand it. Maybe I gave some interviews that were not helpful and I have to admit that, but I'm always telling what I'm feeling, it's how I am. If the players believe in me and the staff, that's the most important thing, otherwise, you can pack your suitcase and go home because the players have to perform on the pitch. " He also said the group had "great togetherness" across players, staff, the sporting director and the chairman.
Season upheaval: trophies won and major departures
The club's 12-month run has been volatile: in May Palace won their first major trophy, beating Manchester City to win the FA Cup, and three months later they added the Community Shield with a penalty shootout win over Liverpool. Despite the silverware, key players moved on or nearly moved on — winger Eberechi Eze left for Arsenal; Marc Guehi nearly joined Liverpool and then moved to Manchester City five months later; and top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta was on the verge of signing for AC Milan only to fail a medical.
Palace were demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League after winning the FA Cup last season, and their first European campaign in this competition will continue against either the Cypriot side Larnaca, who Palace lost to during the group stages, or Mainz from Germany in the last 16.
Fan unrest, matchday atmosphere and stadium disputes
The season has seen visible fan unrest. Supporters called for the Austrian manager to be sacked after the first leg, and fans held up a banner on Sunday before a 1-0 win over Wolves reading he was "finished. " The club rejected a request from the supporters' group responsible for that banner to turn off the music during the pre-match warm-up on the grounds that UEFA regulations would not allow it.
Still, a large contingent of travelling supporters who took up position two hours before kick-off helped to create a decent atmosphere despite a large number of empty seats in the home sections. During the first half, the Holmesdale Fanatics displayed a message that read: "40 quid? Palace fans fleeced = empty seats. "
European picture beyond Palace and late-round permutations
Other continental ties were settled as clubs jostle for last-16 places. Williot Swedberg scored the only goal as Celta Vigo beat PAOK 3-1 on aggregate to set up a tie against either Aston Villa or Lyon. Lille overturned a deficit to win 2-0 at Red Star Belgrade, with Olivier Giroud and Nathan Ngoy scoring in extra time, and could provide opposition for Villa or Lyon in the draw. Ferencvaros, managed by Robbie Keane, overturned a one-goal first-leg deficit to win 2-0 at home and knock out Ludogorets Razgrad.
Gabi Kanichowsky and Kristoffer Zachariassen scored first-half goals to put another Hungarian side into the next round, where they will face Porto or Braga; one of those clubs is also due to face Stuttgart despite Stuttgart losing 1-0 at home to Celtic. Luke McCowan's goal after 28 seconds was the Europa League's fastest in 10 years, though the hosts prevailed 4-2 on aggregate in that tie.
Panathinaikos beat Viktoria Plzen on penalties after a 1-1 second-leg draw left the tie 3-3 on aggregate; Javi Hernández was sent off, Andreas Tetteh had put the visitors ahead early, Karel Spacil equalised for Plzen, and Milos Pantovic scored the decisive spot-kick with Midtjylland or Real Betis awaiting in the last 16. Nottingham Forest, who beat Fenerbahce, are also potential opponents for Midtjylland or Betis.
Bologna beat 10-man Brann 1-0 on the night and 2-0 on aggregate to set up a last-16 tie; the remainder of that opponent detail is unclear in the provided context.
