Crystal Palace Vs Zrinjski — 'Don't know what the fuss was about' (crystal palace vs zrinjski)
Crystal Palace progressed to the Conference League last 16 after a 2-0 win over Bosnian side Zrinjski at Selhurst Park, sealing a 3-1 aggregate victory — a result that matters as Palace will find out their last-16 opponents in the draw on Friday at 13: 00 GMT (unclear in the provided context what that converts to in ET). The win came amid a chaotic season that has seen trophy success, major departures and public rows involving manager Oliver Glasner.
Crystal Palace Vs Zrinjski: Selhurst Park finishers Lacroix and Guessand
Maxence Lacroix and Evann Guessand were the scorers as Palace beat Zrinjski 2-0 at Selhurst Park to complete a 3-1 aggregate victory and reach the last 16. Captain Dean Henderson joked, "I don't know what all the fuss was about, " shortly after the victory. The tie followed a first-leg trip in Bosnia and Herzegovina that ended in a 1-1 draw, a result Palace were described as fortunate to escape.
Oliver Glasner admits stirring a media storm but says his job is secure
Oliver Glasner, described in the context as the club's most successful manager, admitted he had sparked a media storm and accepted he had given interviews "that were not really helpful. " He had previously announced in January that he was leaving at the end of the season and told the club's board they had "abandoned" the squad, an intervention that appeared to end his tenure before he ultimately stayed. After the Zrinjski tie he said he had assurance of his job "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. "
Trophies and turnover: FA Cup, Community Shield, and key exits
Palace supporters have lived an emotional rollercoaster: in May they beat Manchester City to win their first major trophy, the FA Cup, and then three months later won the Community Shield on penalties against Liverpool. Yet the squad has changed significantly — winger Eberechi Eze left for Arsenal; captain Marc Guehi nearly joined Liverpool before moving 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.
Fan unrest, matchday atmosphere and pre-match disputes
The season’s friction has spilled into the stands. Fans held up a banner on Sunday before a 1-0 win over Wolves saying Glasner was "finished. " A supporters' group responsible for that banner asked the club to turn off the music so they could "back the team during the pre-match warm-up, " but Palace rejected the request on the grounds that UEFA regulations would not allow it. A large group of travelling supporters took up position two hours before kick-off and helped create a decent atmosphere despite a large number of empty seats in the home sections; the Holmesdale Fanatics displayed the message "40 quid? Palace fans fleeced = empty seats" during the first half.
European path and wider playoff 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 in the last 16 against either the Cypriot side Larnaca — who Palace lost to during the group stages — or Mainz from Germany. Elsewhere in the European play-offs, Celta Vigo beat PAOK 3-1 on aggregate with Williot Swedberg scoring the only goal in the second leg; Lille recovered to win 2-0 at Red Star Belgrade thanks to Olivier Giroud and, in extra time, Nathan Ngoy; Robbie Keane's Ferencvaros overturned a one-goal first-leg deficit to win 2-0 at home and knock out Ludogorets Razgrad, with first-half goals from Gabi Kanichowsky and Kristoffer Zachariassen putting the Hungarian side into the next round to face Porto or Braga; Stuttgart will face one of those despite losing 1-0 at home to Celtic. Additional ties saw Luke McCowan score after 28 seconds — the Europa League's fastest in 10 years — though the hosts prevailed 4-2 on aggregate; Panathinaikos beat Viktoria Plzen 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the second leg, with Javi Hernández sent off, Karel Spacil equalising and Milos Pantovic scoring the decisive spot-kick, and Midtjylland or Real Betis await; Nottingham Forest, having beaten Fenerbahce on aggregate, are potential opponents for Midtjylland or Betis; Bologna beat 10-man Brann 1-0 on the night and 2-0 on aggregate.
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On the domestic front Palace sit 13th in the Premier League, 10 points clear of the relegation zone and three points away from eighth — a position that could be high enough to secure a European return next season. Glasner has pointed to the players' performances and a "great togetherness in the group" — players, staff, the sporting director and the chairman — as evidence he can still steer the campaign to a strong finish, calling the period possibly "the best two years in Crystal Palace's history, playing European football for the first time. "
