Glasner urges Palace to win Conference League final as his perfect farewell

Oliver Glasner has called on Crystal Palace to beat Rayo Vallecano in Wednesday’s Conference League final in Leipzig, saying qualification for next season’s Europa League would be the finest farewell gift his players could give him before he departs the club.

The Austrian, who confirmed earlier this season that he would leave at the end of the campaign, addressed his squad at a farewell gathering on Tuesday evening in Saxony. “For me, the best thing would be, of course, winning tomorrow,” Glasner said, “but not for winning tomorrow — because then they plan European football in the Europa League next year. They would get next year what we should have gotten this year.”

He added that he hoped to watch Palace compete in the Europa League from his television, and that the ambition instilled during his tenure would outlast him. “This would make me really happy, because then I think we created a mindset at the end that is always successful. That doesn’t mean that you win a trophy every single year, but at the end you will always get the best out of every single player and every single team.”

Glasner’s time at Selhurst Park has been defined by historic achievement. He led Palace to their first major trophy when they defeated Manchester City in the 2025 FA Cup final at Wembley, before the club returned to the national stadium to beat Liverpool and claim the Community Shield. That FA Cup win, however, triggered a prolonged legal dispute: Palace believed the victory had secured their Europa League place, but were blocked due to a multi-club ownership conflict involving former co-owner John Textor’s ties to both Palace and Lyon. An appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was rejected, making Wednesday’s final in Leipzig a chance at the continental football they were denied.

Around 13,000 Palace supporters have filled the official away allocation at the Red Bull Arena, with many more expected in general seating — a sold-out travelling contingent for whom victory would carry an added sense of justice.

On fitness, Glasner confirmed that defenders Chris Richards and Adam Wharton were both available in training on Tuesday morning, though he stressed he would only select players who are “100 per cent fit” for the starting XI.

Chairman Steve Parish has credited Glasner with elevating the club to levels it had never previously reached, and the 51-year-old’s relationship with the Palace hierarchy remained intact even through a difficult January — when his departure was announced — and a subsequent dip in form. Captain Dean Henderson and the playing squad have also rallied around their outgoing manager ahead of what will be his final match in charge.