‘This is why you dream of being a footballer’ – Glasner reacts to Palace semi-final win

‘This is why you dream of being a footballer’ – Glasner reacts to Palace semi-final win

Oliver Glasner says that nights like these are “why you dream of being a footballer” after Crystal Palace reached their first ever European final.

A goal from Ismaila Sarr and an own goal from Pedro Henrique in south London ensured that Palace won 2-1 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate to reach the final of the UEFA Conference League.

Glasner was full of praise for his side’s mentality after the match.

“It was really exciting. Everyone could see how good Shakhtar are so huge credit to my players,” he said. “They stick to the plan and work so hard.

“We talk about ‘mentality’ and you look at the second goal – three players got fouled but they always continue play. This shows everything about this team.

“Fantastic atmosphere. This is why you dream of being a football player as a little boy, this is the reward you get. We are in our next final together. It is amazing what this group are doing for Crystal Palace.

“Before the game, we showed them three clips from the first leg; they were not football topics. [We showed them] menality, how they fought for eachother, the commitment for the team. We showed them when the three centre-backs and Dean Henderson jumping chest to chest, celebrating together. This is amazing.”

“I spoke to the chairman [Steve Parish] before, he always comes in to my office before the game when players are warming up.

“I said to him ‘do you ever think we would be playing in the semi-final of a European competition at Selhurst Park?’ He said ‘no’. I said ‘when we talked for the first time three years ago, I didn’t think about it.’