Crystal Palace where they belong after year-long ‘detour’, says Oliver Glasner after Conference League triumph

LEIPZIG – Departing Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner toasted the Conference League final victory on May 27 by saying the club were back where they belong after a “year’s detour”.

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s second-half goal took Palace to a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano and a maiden European triumph. It also earned them a place in the Europa League.

Palace’s FA Cup win last season had qualified them for this season’s Europa League, but UEFA revoked their place in the second-tier European competition due to multi-club ownership rules.

“I said to the players, get now what you deserve after winning the FA Cup – the Europa League,” Glasner told reporters after the match.

“Now, it’s a one-year delay, the club, the fans, the players get what they deserve.

“Sometimes you have to take a detour and now we’re there.”

In January, Glasner announced he would leave the club in the summer. Palace had never won a cup when he arrived, but he leaves having lifted the FA Cup, Community Shield and now a first European trophy.

“We hear a lot when the fans say thank you to us for giving them the best day of their life and all these emotions. And I said thank you to the players, because it’s the same for me,” Glasner said.

“Because they gave me great, incredible days in my life and that’s what I really appreciate.”

Glasner said his time at Palace was “a good chapter to read in the Crystal Palace book, but other chapters will follow”.

Defender Tyrick Mitchell said winning the Conference League felt like “pure delight” after a decade at the London club.

“It’s amazing. It’s the same feeling that we had when we won the FA Cup,” Mitchell told TNT Sports.

“It’s just pure delight, pure emotions and we’re just happy that we were able to get over the line.”

“It definitely is (the hardest season we’ve played). We play 60 games a season,” he said.

“So many of our bodies are not used to it. We had times when we weren’t winning. We lost a couple of games in this competition.”

Adam Wharton, whose shot rebounded into the path of Mateta for Palace’s goal, struggled to sum up what the win meant for the team and their supporters.

“You can’t put the feeling into words. It’s incredible, south London, the fans. It’s unbelievable,” Wharton said.

“The start of the game was a bit cagey, as it’s bound to be in a final, but we grew into it, found where the spaces were.”

Wharton missed last season’s FA Cup final festivities because of concussion and said he had “two celebrations to catch up on”.

Meanwhile, distraught Rayo players apologised to supporters after their bid for a first European trophy fell short.

The Madrid side narrowly missed out on a historic triumph in Leipzig, with midfielder Isi Palazon reduced to tears despite what had been a memorable continental run.

“We just couldn’t put the finishing touch on it,” Palazon told Movistar Plus. “Next year we’ll bounce back and bring joy to these people who’ve made a huge financial sacrifice to be here. We weren’t clinical and we have to accept the defeat.”

Travelling Rayo fans remained in the stands after the final whistle to applaud their players, who stood dejected on the pitch.

Captain Oscar Valentin said Palace’s physical approach had made it difficult for his side to impose themselves.

“The team gave their all, but we were never comfortable,” he said. “They were very physical and tough for us. Reaching the final is a gift, but we’re gutted because it felt within reach. I’m speechless for these fans.” AFP, REUTERS