Oliver Glasner reflected on the context of the Crystal Palace campaign.
The Eagles have made history in the last 12 months with their 1-0 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final and the penalty shootout triumph over Liverpool in the Community Shield.
Another competitive finish in the Premier League was well on the cards in November, but injuries to a squad stretched across continental and domestic competitions were too much to bear. Arsenal eliminated the side in the Carabao Cup quarter-final in December, and a shock FA Cup third round exit followed. The departure of Marc Guehi in January seemed like the final straw for the side.
‘We know we can write history again’
Glasner, vocal in his discontent about the management of the transfer business, is set to set sail from Croydon this summer. However, he has never turned his back on the players and their commitment.
“If I wouldn't be excited for such a big game, and we can play the European final, it would be the wrong job for me. It’s why we all love to be a player, love to be a manager, love to be involved.
“I think everybody is excited, and if you lose this excitement, then for me it would be a clear sign to retire. I'm enjoying it. I told the players today I'm really enjoying being part of this incredible group. What they have done for Crystal Palace in the last two years is just incredible.
“For such a long time it feels like it's always been like this, but now maybe it's because I'm leaving in summer and I get recognised more and more in London, and people are talking to me and fans are talking to me, what they're telling me is that it's really something special.
“For us, we're in this three-day rhythm and then preparing, analysing, preparing, analysing, and all this stuff. But what these players have done for Crystal Palace in the last two years is just incredible.
“They've played in the Premier League, such great and big games, winning the FA Cup, then the Community Shield, a great start into the season, and now being close to playing in the European final. I think this has been, for a few years, this has been so far away from Crystal Palace, and now it's, I don't know how you say it, it's close to reality.
“We know we can write history again. We know that we can give the fans some moments that will stay forever, and I think I mentioned it after the FA Cup, this is maybe the best thing you can have in your job. If you give the people who are supporting you, if you give the people who are watching you, if you give the people who are reading about you, some excitement in their life, this is what we want.
“Tomorrow is the 55th game, and in the morning, we always have one or two pre-match meetings, let's say 150 meetings, and they always hear me talking. Today, we had another meeting, and then the players come in, I'm standing in front of the screen, and I like it, and then they're talking together, they're laughing, they're having fun.
“It's still, it's not ‘oh, next game’ – they're enjoying the atmosphere at the training ground. Sometimes I let them talk for one more minute, even the time we should start, because I just like to watch them, how they have fun, and this is something special.
“We have hopefully three weeks to go together. We want to end the season the best possible way, and we have the chance to do it. The players have to stay focused, and I have to stay focused. It's not now celebrating or having a farewell dinner every single night. It's staying focused, supporting the players as well as I can, together with my staff, preparing the players as good as we can, and then: let's go.
“I'm saying this very often: don't do anything for me, you don't need it. Do it for yourself, do it for the club, do it for the fans, because winning the Conference League means European football again next year at Selhurst for Crystal Palace.
“I don't want to have a summary of the year because it’s not over – we’ll have a few more press conferences! Sometimes I can be quite demanding and quite harsh, but on the other side, I think this is what the players know, everything I'm telling them, I want the best for them.”
