Key Takeaways
- Crystal Palace reached their first European semi-final after beating Fiorentina 3-2 on aggregate.
- The Eagles will face Shakhtar Donetsk for a place in the Conference League final.
- Manager Oliver Glasner, who will leave at the end of the season, has revived the squad after a mid-season slump.
Crystal Palace are one tie away from a historic European final. The south-London club edged past Fiorentina 3-2 on aggregate to reach the last four of the UEFA Conference League.
A 3-0 home win gave Palace breathing space before Thursday’s 2-1 loss in Italy. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson called the run “sensational” and praised the squad’s spirit.
Only three years old, the competition has already given clubs like Roma and West Ham their first continental silverware. Palace supporters now hope to join that list little more than a year after lifting the FA Cup.
Former Eagle James Tomkins believes the team can go all the way. “They never expected to be here two seasons ago,” he told TNT Sports.
Form dipped in mid-season after boss Oliver Glasner hinted he would walk when his deal ends this summer. Results have since picked up, with Senegal striker Ismaila Sarr scoring seven of his 17 goals in the tournament.
Palace will meet Shakhtar Donetsk in the semi-finals, while Strasbourg take on Rayo Vallecano. Glasner says the squad want to give him a winning send-off: “When you reach a semi-final, you want to finish the job.”