Glasner's pre-Zrinjski press conference: The key talking points

First-team

25 Feb 2026

Crystal Palace are looking to make history on Thursday (20:00 GMT) and reach the last 16 of a European competition for the first time, when hosting Zrinjski Mostar in our UEFA Conference League play-off second leg.

Read the Manager's pre-match team news update here.
Tickets available for Thursday night's second leg.
How to watch & follow the second leg at Selhurst Park.

Palace would face Mainz 05 or AEK Larnaca in the next round should the Eagles progress, with a draw to follow on Friday.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday Oliver Glasner said that the teams’ immediate focus was on respecting Zrinjski Mostar with the Manager stating that his team will need to produce a more balanced performance to progress.

Read on below for the key talking points!

Pre-match Press Conference: Zrinjski Mostar (H)

On how togetherness will make a difference:

I think that’s what we need [when asked if Selhurst Park can be a fortress]. Having this spirit of togetherness.

And everybody supporting everyone, on and off the pitch. I think this is the foundation for success at every football club.

On the recent good mood and our opponents:

It’s a good mood [at the training ground] Of course the win against Wolves had helped, but the players are very positive. They are doing such a great job.

Now we’re still playing European football tomorrow, and of course, we want to win at Selhurst and then go into the next round.

But I have – and we all have – big respect for Zrinjski Mostar. They showed they are difficult to play against, very well-organised. They are very aggressive in their formation, and always ready to make good transitions.

It will be a good challenge and test tomorrow.

On respecting Zrinjski:

I always say we want to win every competition we can enter, but it makes no sense to talk about it now.

It was the same in the FA Cup last year when we played Doncaster [in the fourth round] I didn’t talk about the final at Wembley. We just talked about a Monday night game against Doncaster with all the respect – and it was a tough win there.

We took it game by game, I think that’s the best thing to do.

Yesterday, I watched Inter Milan against Bodo/Glimt. Inter lead Serie A by nine or ten points. Last year they played the Champions League final – but here they lost.

So it makes no sense talking about the final.

Quote Icons

We need a better balance in our game
—Oliver Glasner

On what Palace need to improve on from the first leg:

We need a better balance in our game, not allowing so many transitions and we need more runs in-behind to threaten them, even though it looks like sometimes there’s not a lot of space.

If we can get the ball in-behind, then we’ll get the game around their box and then we can score goals.

Sometimes we take too much risk. But it’s because the players want to score, they want to break the deep block, and they want to take responsibility. But we want better structure behind the ball, especially.

On preparation if a penalty shootout is required:

The first goal is to avoid extra-time and penalties, be a clear winner in 90 minutes. We never trained specifically for this, not before the Community Shield.

Always during the year [in training] if the game is tied at the end we’ll do penalty shootouts. It’s the same.

It’s about who feels they have had a good game, who’s confident. Then we pick.

I just know one thing. Definitely if Justin Devenny is on the pitch and we need it, he will take one! He’s taken such amazing penalties.

So if he’s on the pitch and we need it, he’ll take one.

Match Details

Crystal Palace v Zrinjski Mostar

Thursday, 26th February
20:00 GMT
Selhurst Park
UEFA Conference League play-off round, second leg
Tickets available to purchase here.

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