Crystal Palace’s European campaign is boosted by Europa League relegation, says Glasner

On Tuesday, Oliver Glasner urged his Crystal Palace squad to redeem themselves after the club’s Europa League demotion by winning the UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday and earning a return to the competition.

Speaking before the Leipzig, Germany match, Glasner—who will leave the club after Wednesday’s game—stated that a victory would restore Palace to a competition they “deserved” to play in this season.

Palace qualified for a debut Europa League campaign when Glasner guided them to last season’s FA Cup, the club’s first title.

However, UEFA stripped Palace of the right to compete in the Europa League because of multi‑club ownership rules, forcing them to start in the Conference League instead.

“For me, the best thing would be winning tomorrow, but not just for winning tomorrow, but because then they play European football in the Europa League next year,” Glasner said. “Then we get next year what we should have got this year.”

The coach pledged to follow Palace’s journey next season, even if he is no longer in the dugout.

“I would like to watch on TV that they start the Europa League with the desire and the confidence that they can win the Europa League as well. This would make me really happy, because then I see you can create a mindset together.”

Players take a drinks break during a team training session at the team’s training ground in Beckenham, south of London on May 21, 2026, as part of a media day ahead of their UEFA Europa Conference League final football match against Rayo Vallecano on May 27. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)

The Austrian said his side had “fully embraced” the Conference League from the moment the decision became clear.

“For teams accustomed to playing in the Champions League, it might not be the most glamorous European competition. But when you are a club participating in a European competition for the very first time in your history, it is simply an outstanding experience.”

Glasner, who won the Europa League as Eintracht Frankfurt manager in 2022, will leave Palace after overseeing an unprecedented level of success in the club’s history.

In addition to last year’s FA Cup victory over Manchester City, Palace beat defending Premier League champions Liverpool in the Charity Shield to open this season.

Glasner said he told his players to relax and embrace the week.

“It’s quite relaxed… We’ll go to dinner. I don’t know what the players are doing, but they’re all adults. I hope nobody goes into a bar or something.”

He added that injured duo Adam Wharton and Chris Richards trained on Tuesday, but a call on their inclusion will be made on match day.

“I’ll only nominate a starting XI who is 100 percent fit… Of course, they’ve still got some pain but I think many players are feeling pain after such a long season. Everybody wants to participate, but a final decision will be made tomorrow.”

Rayo are also on a fairytale run and could win a first major trophy in their history by winning on Wednesday.

Midfielder Oscar Trejo said his team wanted to repay the faith of their fans who have supported them on a “magical” run to a first European final.

“It’s something magical,” Trejo said, who will leave the south‑Madrid club after a decade after Wednesday’s game. “It’s something we dreamed of. It’s been a tough process. We will go out all guns blazing tomorrow and we’ll try and enjoy it to the very last moment.”

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