Crystal Palace Vs Zrinjski — Glasner shrugs off backlash as Palace reach Conference League last 16
In the latest chapter billed crystal palace vs zrinjski, Crystal Palace beat the Bosnian side 2-0 at Selhurst Park — Maxence Lacroix and Evann Guessand scored — to seal a 3-1 aggregate victory and a place in the Conference League last 16; Palace will learn their opponents in the draw on Friday at 13: 00 GMT (8: 00 a. m. ET).
Crystal Palace Vs Zrinjski: the second leg and decisive moments
The second leg at Selhurst Park finished 2-0 as Maxence Lacroix and Evann Guessand found the net, completing a 3-1 aggregate success after a 1-1 first leg in Bosnia and Herzegovina; captain Dean Henderson joked, "I don't know what all the fuss was about, " shortly after the win.
Glasner and the media storm around the tie
Oliver Glasner has admitted his comments have provoked a reaction, saying "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. " He also told the club he had assurance of his job "100%".
The manager had announced in January he would leave at the end of the season and told the club's board they had "abandoned" the squad, a remark that sparked controversy but did not lead to his immediate departure. After the first-leg trip supporters called for the Austrian to be sacked in the morning, yet Lacroix and Guessand made it a more harmonious evening for Glasner and his side.
Supporter reaction and match-day atmosphere
Fans held up a banner before Palace's 1-0 win over Wolves saying Glasner was "finished, " while a supporters' group responsible for that banner requested music be turned off before the Wolves match; the club rejected the request on the grounds that UEFA's regulations would not allow it. A large group of travelling supporters who took up position two hours before kick-off helped create a decent atmosphere despite many empty seats, and Holmesdale Fanatics displayed the message "40 quid? Palace fans fleeced = empty seats" during the first half.
A chaotic 12 months in concrete terms
It has been a turbulent year: Palace won their first major trophy in May, beating Manchester City to lift the FA Cup, then three months later won the Community Shield on penalties against Liverpool. Key players have left or nearly left — winger Eberechi Eze moved to 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.
Glasner said the players' performance vindicates him: "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 added the group has "great togetherness" and called this possibly "the second-best Premier League season ever, " with "the best" being last year as Palace play European football for the first time.
On league form Palace sit 13th in the Premier League, 10 points clear of the relegation zone and only three away from eighth, a place that could be high enough to secure a European return next season.
Wider European outcomes and who Palace could face
Palace were demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League after winning the FA Cup last season and now await a last-16 opponent of either Larnaca or Mainz, depending on Friday's draw. Across Europe, Williot Swedberg scored the only goal as Celta Vigo beat PAOK 3-1 on aggregate to set up a last-16 tie against either Aston Villa or Lyon.
Lille bounced back to win 2-0 at Red Star Belgrade with goals from Olivier Giroud and Nathan Ngoy in extra time and could be another potential opponent for Villa or Lyon, while Robbie Keane's Ferencvaros overturned a one-goal first-leg deficit to win 2-0 at home and knock out Ludogorets Razgrad. First-half goals from Gabi Kanichowsky and Kristoffer Zachariassen put the Hungarian side into the next round, where they will face Porto or Braga, one of which Stuttgart will also face despite 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. Panathinaikos, who played the second half of extra time with 10 men after Javi Hernández was sent off, beat Viktoria Plzen 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the second leg made it 3-3 on aggregate; Andreas Tetteh put the visitors ahead early but 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 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 last-16 tie w (unclear in the provided context).
Palace's immediate focus is the draw on Friday at 13: 00 GMT (8: 00 a. m. ET), when they will discover whether their next opponent in the Conference League last 16 will be Larnaca or Mainz.
