Crystal Palace Vs Zrinjski — chaotic Palace season could end in glory
Crystal Palace reached the Conference League last 16 after a 2-0 win that sealed a 3-1 aggregate, in a tie described by some as crystal palace vs zrinjski. The victory at Selhurst Park and a string of club developments have left the campaign both turbulent and full of potential.
Crystal Palace Vs Zrinjski recap
Maxence Lacroix and Evann Guessand scored as Crystal Palace beat Bosnian side Zrinjski 2-0 at Selhurst Park to seal a 3-1 aggregate victory. Palace had been fortunate to escape the first leg in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a 1-1 draw, and the tie might have been different if Zrinjski Mostar had equalised shortly before Guessand settled the tie late on.
Glasner and players' reactions
Captain Dean Henderson joked: "I don't know what all the fuss was about, " shortly after the win. Oliver Glasner, who announced in January he was leaving at the end of the season and told the club's board they had "abandoned" the squad, has remained in charge and said he had been given assurance of his job from his bosses: "100%. " He 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. We're in a very good position in the league and the Conference League and it is up to us to make a really great season of it. "
Glasner also said: "I just had to express it otherwise I would have exploded. I can't do it differently. If I feel something, I have to say it. Then I have to face the shitstorm. Everyone hopefully knows everything I say and do is for the best of Crystal Palace. " For Glasner, the players' continued performances are evidence his job is secure: "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 described "a great togetherness in the group - players, staff, really positive" and noted people were sometimes wondering, "Hey, this is the second-best Premier League season ever. The best was last year. So maybe the best two years in Crystal Palace's history, playing European football for the first time. "
Season turmoil and key departures
The club has endured a wild 12 months. In May they won their first major trophy, beating Manchester City to win the FA Cup, then added the Community Shield three months later with a penalty shootout win over Liverpool. Several players moved or nearly moved: winger Eberechi Eze left for Arsenal; skipper Marc Guehi nearly joined Liverpool and then moved to Manchester City five months later; top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta was on the verge of signing for AC Milan but failed a medical. Despite Glasner's January announcement that he would leave at season's end, he remained and has at times criticised the club and upset fans.
Fans, banners and atmosphere
Supporters called for Glasner to be sacked after the first leg and a banner reading he was "finished" was held up on Sunday before the 1-0 win over Wolves. A supporters' group asked for music to be turned off so they could "back the team during the pre-match warm-up, " but the request was rejected on the grounds that Uefa's regulations wouldn't allow it. A large group of travelling supporters who took up position two hours before kick-off helped create a decent atmosphere despite a large number of empty seats in the home sections. During the first half the Holmesdale Fanatics displayed the message: "40 quid? Palace fans fleeced = empty seats. "
European context and other results
Palace were demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League after winning the FA Cup last season, and their first European campaign will continue against either Larnaca or Mainz in the last 16. Palace will find out their Conference League last-16 opponents in the draw on Friday at 13: 00 GMT.
Other continental ties and outcomes mentioned around the draw included: Celta Vigo beating PAOK 3-1 on aggregate with Williot Swedberg scoring the only goal to set up a last-16 tie against either Aston Villa or Lyon; Lille overturning a first-leg loss to win 2-0 at Red Star Belgrade with goals from Olivier Giroud and Nathan Ngoy in extra time; Robbie Keane's Ferencvaros overturning a one-goal first-leg deficit to win 2-0 and knock out Ludogorets Razgrad; and Bologna beating 10-man Brann 1-0 on the night and 2-0 on aggregate to set up a last-16 tie.
Additional results and developments included Gabi Kanichowsky and Kristoffer Zachariassen scoring first-half goals to send a Hungarian side into the next round to face Porto or Braga, one of which Stuttgart will also face despite losing 1-0 at home to Celtic; Luke McCowan scoring after 28 seconds, the Europa League's fastest in 10 years, though the hosts prevailed 4-2 on aggregate; and Panathinaikos beating Viktoria Plzen 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 second leg made it 3-3 on aggregate, a match that saw Javi Hernández sent off in extra time, Andreas Tetteh put the visitors ahead early, Karel Spacil equalise, and Milos Pantovic score the decisive spot-kick with Midtjylland or Real Betis awaiting. Nottingham Forest, who beat Fenerbahce on aggregate, are also potential opponents in that section of the draw.
A live blog of one match was unavailable at the time, carrying the message: "Sorry, this blog is currently unavailable. Please try again later. "
Palace sit 13th in the Premier League, 10 points clear of the relegation zone and only three points away from eighth, a position that could be high enough to secure a European return next season.
