Henderson urges Crystal Palace to 'finish the movie off' for departing Glasner in Leipzig final

Crystal Palace captain Dean Henderson has urged his teammates to deliver a Conference League title for departing manager Oliver Glasner when the Eagles face Rayo Vallecano in Wednesday’s final in Leipzig — a result that would cap an extraordinary two-year reign in south London.

Glasner has already led Palace to an FA Cup triumph over Manchester City and a Community Shield, and Henderson wants the squad to complete what he describes as a “sensational” script for their outgoing boss. “It would be a great way to finish the movie off for Glasner as well,” said the England goalkeeper. “Everyone wants that happy ending and everyone’s working towards that. It’d be unbelievable for him, wouldn’t it? Obviously the best manager this club’s ever had and to finish on such a high would be sensational.”

Henderson inherited the captaincy following Marc Guehi’s January move to Manchester City and was central to Palace’s FA Cup success, saving Omar Marmoush’s first-half penalty in the 1-0 Wembley victory that secured the club’s first major silverware and a place in European competition. He has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of that achievement, revealing an unexpected low in the days that followed. “The high to the low. I remember after the FA Cup final, three days after, I didn’t want to get out of bed,” he said. “I actually think it was like, I felt depressed. It was mad. But I don’t know why. I’ve never really spoken about it.”

Despite the mental weight of a landmark season, Henderson insists the squad’s focus has sharpened as the final has approached, even if the subject remains largely unspoken in the dressing room. “Naturally, you’re thinking about it,” he said. “Even for the last couple of weeks, you’re probably thinking, ‘let’s try and win the final’. No one speaks about it to each other. It’s just about your individual battles, isn’t it?”

Henderson pointed to Palace’s record once the knockout rounds began as evidence the squad can handle the occasion. “When the tournament’s got real, we’ve turned up. We’ve delivered some great performances and some good results since we got out of the group stage. We won’t freeze. We’ll play.”

The identity of Glasner’s successor has not been confirmed, leaving Wednesday’s final as the last act of a tenure that has fundamentally reshaped expectations at Selhurst Park.