Johnson: It's about embracing the moment and giving everything

First-team

4 hours ago

Brennan Johnson has called on Crystal Palace to embrace the moment, when the Eagles kick-off their first-ever European quarter-final at Selhurst Park this evening.

Read Glasner’s pre-match team news update.
Hear more from the Manager here.
How to watch & follow Thursday night's first leg at Selhurst Park.

The Wales international – who notably scored the winning goal in a European final for Tottenham just last May – says everyone at the club is excited by the occasion presented by hosting serial UEFA Conference League challengers Fiorentina this week.

Palace first host the Serie A giants – who have, in the Conference League’s three previous seasons, reached two finals and a semi-final – at Selhurst Park tonight (20:00 BST kick-off), before travelling to Florence next week.

Now, with the Eagles returning to action for the first time since a memorable win in the Round of 16 in Cyprus – a result which saw them become the first English debutants in Europe to reach the quarter-finals since 1979 – Johnson is raring to get going.

“Yeah, massively [excited],” Johnson said in Palace’s pre-match press conference. “I think looking back in players' careers, moments like this don't really happen too often – never mind twice within the space of a year.

“I feel really lucky to be at a club that's been performing so well, and now it's just about embracing the moment that we have, and giving everything we've got, because we know we're in such a good position.

"Personally, I'm really excited to get these games going.”

Pre-match Press Conference: Fiorentina (H)

Quote Icons

If we can play the way we want to, and get the crowd up for it, I think it's a massive advantage
—Brennan Johnson

On Palace’s hopes of channelling the energy of tonight’s sell-out stadium during the first leg, Johnson added: “I think the home advantage is massive. Selhurst Park is an unbelievable stadium and it can generate a really good atmosphere.

“If we can play the way we want to, and get the crowd up for it, I think it's a massive advantage, and hopefully we can take confidence from that to give us the best chance to get a great result.”

Johnson reiterated that he and his teammates are well aware of the threat that Fiorentina, with their impressive track record in this competition, pose.

The Italian team have, however, struggled in Serie A this season, sitting bottom for much of the campaign – albeit having recently won six, and drawn four, of their 13 league matches in 2026 to move five points clear of the relegation zone.

Johnson’s assessment of La Viola was: “I think they're a good team. We've watched many clips. They’re a well-organised team. As the Manager [Oliver Glasner] said, they haven't conceded many.

“It's going to be a difficult game. I think from the clips that we've watched, they’re really well-organised, really defensively strong, but also have some quality in attack.

“I think when it comes to the quarter-finals, the teams are strong and you can't expect an easy game.

“Overall, in every aspect of their game, and as they've showed in the league form recently, they're a really good team and I think it's going to be a tough game – but one we're excited for.”

Three months on from his arrival in South London from Spurs, Johnson added: “[I’ve been impressed with] just how tight the club is.

“I think the atmosphere here and the team spirit is something that I've never experienced before – literally anyone would do anything to get three points for each other!

“It's really special, and I think also the quality is definitely very underrated here. There's a lot of amazing players.

“Coming in, I feel like we were in a tough time, but you always felt like the atmosphere was amazing and the togetherness was there. Everyone was confident that we'd come out the other side of that.

“Especially in Europe, even though it's a new experience for a lot of players, I feel like the togetherness still gets us through it. We’re experiencing and we're learning from every different challenge we've had in this competition.

“Hopefully it's something that we can keep building on to get as far as we can.”

Match Details

Crystal Palace v Fiorentina

Thursday, 9th April
20:00 BST
UEFA Conference League quarter-final
Selhurst Park
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+

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