Memories, achievements & Finals: Glasner's pre-Arsenal & Leipzig press conference

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In his last press conference in South London as Crystal Palace Manager – previewing Palace's final Premier League match of 2025/26 against Arsenal, as well as next week's trip to Leipzig for the UEFA Conference League Final – Oliver Glasner was in reflective mood.

Coming to the end of his two-and-a-half year spell in charge of the Eagles, Glasner has much success to reflect upon – but also plenty left to target in his final two matches in charge.

Palace will be looking to finish on a high domestically against newly-crowned Premier League winners Arsenal in SE25 on Sunday afternoon, Glasner's final match at Selhurst Park.

They will then travel to Leipzig, Germany, for a shot at more history – in their 60th, and last, match of 2025/26, they will be seeking to win a European trophy for the very first time.

With that being the case, Glasner conducted press conferences to preview Arsenal's visit, and then the trip to Leipzig, back-to-back on Thursday evening – with all the key quotes below...

Arsenal (H)

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What makes me proud is that I could work with such great people
—Oliver Glasner

On facing the newly-crowned Premier League champions…

You don't win the league on the last day, you have to play 38 games at a consistent high level. The 37 rounds that have been played so far, every single game decided the title. And for Arsenal's title, there's just one club that's responsible for this, and that's Arsenal. They've done an incredible job, and that's why they deserve it.

At the end, you always get what you deserve, and that's why Arsenal deserve to lift the Premier League trophy.

Honestly, I think it was pretty clear before the season started that this would happen, because last year we played on the final matchday the league winner with Liverpool. And this year it was Arsenal, so it was clear when the league started it would be Arsenal. Or us!

On seeing Ebere Eze become a Premier League winner…

It was so easy for us, because it was either Eberechi or Marc [Guéhi with Man City]. And Michael [Olise] at Bayern Munich, so three players I was lucky to manage for different periods. Michael quite short, Ebs a bit longer, and Marc for longest, for almost two years.

Yes, it's the same, I think they deserve it. Yes, with Ebs, but Marc won the FA Cup and played already two finals, because they are, number one, fantastic football players. I know many fantastic football players, but what makes me proud is that I could work with such great people together: ambitious, humble, hard-working, always trying to improve.

When children look at these players, they see probably just the end product. When you go into a nice restaurant, you see the great steak, but how this becomes a great steak, that's interesting.

Yes, they have fantastic talent and skills, but their work ethic, their attitude. Every single day, work hard, improve, work on your strengths. Again, Eberechi’s finish, how often he stayed on pitch after training and practised his finish again, and practised, and practised, and practised. Marc, after training, we trained for two hours, I was in my office, Marc was still on the pitch, practising, passing, heading, defending with staff members.

This attitude makes the big stars, and that's why I'm really very grateful that I was able to work with these great players.

On whether any players could play their way into his thinking for the Final…

It's always possible. It was today in training, it was yesterday in training, and players can show up. Of course, we won't make 10 changes for the final, because now it will be the 60th game and, let's say, Maxence Lacroix will play if he's fit. He’s in for almost every single game.

But we will start with 11, but we will definitely end the game with a different 11 players. That means probably five subs. If it goes to extra time, probably six subs. That means 16 outfield players can be directly involved on the pitch, and I can promise you we don't win the game with just 16 players. We need more.

We need every single one with support. Of course, we need every single one on pitch, but we need everyone who is not playing as well, because Vallecano are such a good team. We need to perform on a top level.

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I will miss the atmosphere. It's special
—Oliver Glasner

On what he will miss about Palace…

Hopefully, the highlight follows Sunday. I'm always hoping that the best is still to come. This will be now at Selhurst, and then hopefully three days later at Leipzig.

For me, when I'm thinking about what I'm going to miss, it's always the people, because people make something special. Not the building or the walls or the lights, but it's the people.

Of course, it's the people, the players, the staff, because we spend so much time together. It's the people. When I come, it's the security who are always waiting for me. It's a lovely conversation.

It will be the fans when I arrive, always asking for a selfie, always having a positive message, which I'm really appreciating. We usually have a pre-match meal before. It's the chefs there on the way, and the stewards.

All these little things I will miss, because they are all good people. And then, when it's on the pitch, I will miss the atmosphere. It's special.

It's a tight stadium. The fans are so close. Our fans are special. I will miss the support. It's not the seat in the dugout I will miss, because it's a seat. You can change it and it's another seat.

But the ones next to the dugout, the ones behind the dugout, the ones who play in front of you, the ones who support you left and right, in front and behind. These people I will miss, definitely.

And that's why I'm looking forward to the last game at Selhurst, having another great 90 minutes together. Hopefully a fantastic game, definitely a fantastic game, because we are hosting the new Premier League winners. And that makes it special as well.

2 minute highlights: Crystal Palace 4-0 Manchester United

On standout matches and memories at Selhurst…

Many, many. It's the same.

The first win against Burnley [in February 2024]. The Monday night football against Manchester United [in May 2024], when all of a sudden Michael makes a 50-yard sprint and hugs me. I was really surprised to be hugged by Michael, when you know him!

Newcastle, Dani Muñoz, late equaliser, when I had a 50-yard sprint… I didn't know that I could sprint 50 yards and hug somebody! This is what football makes. The emotions are special.

Eddie Nketiah’s game winner this season against Liverpool. Special moment. First European game against Frederikstad, special moment.

And when I think about it now, it feels like there were so many special moments.

Match Highlights: Crystal Palace 2-1 Liverpool

There were some tough defeats, I would say. Some unnecessary defeats, but that's also part of it. I would have preferred having 120 great games.

You also have to deal with the defeats, but – this is also a huge appreciation for our fans in all the games – they supported us, they stood behind the team.

And I mentioned it, yes, there were a few moments, a few games, where they were critical of us. We deserved it, to be criticised, because we didn't perform on our level. But I never had the feeling it was in a bad way. Disappointing, frustration, it's part of it and it's okay not to let you know.

But I never felt it in a bad way. it was always, 'hey, come on, we know you can do it better, show it again'. It was more, ‘come on, let's go again’, and this helped us as well to be back on track.

I hope I will definitely come back, not as a manager, but to Selhurst. I hope, and I'm pretty sure, [I will] because this is the case with Frankfurt, with Wolfsburg, with Linz.

Relationships will stay, even when I leave. For me, this is more important than a shield in my office, as I mentioned. I will have plenty of memories, to be honest, and most of them are positive.

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It just shows again: if you don't set your ceiling, much is possible
—Oliver Glasner

On the collective achievement at the club…

Nobody owes me anything. Again, as soon as I decide to work for a club, and when I decided to sign a contract for Crystal Palace, it's a 100% commitment that I will give my best, from day number one until my last day. Nobody owes me anything.

This is what I feel is my duty, and this is what I feel I have to deliver. This is what I feel I have to give. Sometimes I would like to give more, but I'm always failing. At the end, we will all have great memories. It's not just the fans – I will have them, the players will have, my staff will have.

This is what I really like, just sharing a few moments together. That's why I don't see that anybody owes me anything, because we won the FA Cup. I didn't do it, I didn't play one minute. If you can show me that I played one minute, I scored one goal, probably. But no, the players do everything.

We are a group, all together. The players, the staff, the scouting, the sporting director, the Chairman, the media. We are spending so much time together. We all have one big goal: being as successful as possible.

Everybody works so hard for it. I think if somebody owes something, then to everyone, not to me. I didn't do more. I was probably a puzzle piece, yes. But one puzzle piece doesn't make a picture.

On looking back at his arrival at Palace…

When I met the Chairman [Steve Parish for the first time], I met him a few months before I started. We were talking about potentially starting in summer, after Roy [Hodgson] probably retires. These were the conversations.

I started in February, but when we talked at that time, it was always: ‘okay, what is the potential of the squad? What is the potential of the club?’ We all felt there is more potential than has been shown at that time.

We didn't talk about winning a trophy, but my approach is getting the best out of every single player, getting the best out of Crystal Palace. This is what the Chairman thought: there is still potential in Crystal Palace, in the club, so let's work hard together to get this potential out of everyone.

This was the approach, and then we will develop, but we never thought about winning a trophy, winning a Community Shield, playing European football, but it just shows again, if you don't set your ceiling, much is possible.

Leipzig

Pre Match Press Conference Rayo Vallecano (N)

On exceeding expectations in Palace’s first season in Europe…

I don't know what the expectation was. I just can say I gave my best.

What I can do together with my staff, with the players, and we are, of course, playing two finals within two years is special. It's probably we exceeded the expectations, but I don't think about it now.

For me, it's now, together with everyone, preparing in the best way, analysing what it needs, just small adjustments, because we will stick to what we were doing, to what brought us into the Final. We stick to our principles, but having small adjustments to what Vallecano’s strengths and probably weaknesses are, and that's what we're all thinking about, is what do we need that we win?

Because everything else, it doesn't matter. I think if we win, it's a great ending to the season.

On whether Vallecano are the underdogs in this game…

I think it's a 50-50 game. Every final is a 50-50 game, but the same with [Eintracht] Frankfurt. We were winning against Barcelona in the quarter-final. We were the underdog. We played West Ham then. We were the underdog. We played Rangers [in the Final], and it was 50-50, and it went to penalties, so I expect a very tight game against Vallecano. It's such a good team.

They are still fighting for European qualification in La Liga. I think everybody has seen that Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid were in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. They are the only country with three teams in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. One team is in the Conference League final.

The Spanish league is really top, and Vallecano will end seventh again after last year. Really, for me, we will play the tactical best team in the Conference League we've played so far.

I think individually, probably, Shakhtar Donetsk was the best team with all the Brazilians, the quick players they had, but tactically, Vallecano are so good, playing so intense, always pressing, always running in behind, always sprinting. You have never time, there’s threat on transition. Very experienced, many players 30 or older.

They’re a fantastic team of players, and a really, really well-managed team.

On English clubs’ success in Europe this season…

It's the second Conference League final where the English team plays the Spanish team, because it was Chelsea against Real Betis last year. I think I watched the game and I remember the first half, Betis took the lead and looked a little bit better, but then Chelsea could turn it around in the second-half.

In every European final we have an English team this year. Of course, that's why you know the Premier League is the most competitive league.

But also, in the Champions League, maybe the top-flight of European football, there were three Spanish teams on that stage [Round of 16] too.

In these top five leagues – England, Germany, France, Italy, Spain – you have often two, three, maybe four teams on a very high level. There was also Freiburg playing against Villa yesterday [in the Conference League Final]. In the Premier League, we have 17, 18.

Last year, it was the 17th against the 15th [in the Europa League Final]. In the Premier League, we are 15th and in the Conference League final. It's just the quality of every single team is so high. The competitiveness of the Premier League is the highest in the world.

The reason is very simple, like always. It's in every sport and it is where most of the money is. You have the best players. You have the best managers, maybe. And then you get the best teams.

This is why the Premier League is quite dominant. Last year, it was the same. This year, you get the fifth Champions League spot for the coefficient. That's the nature of the Premier League.

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They always kept going. They always supported each other
—Oliver Glasner

On reaching the Final in Palace’s first European campaign…

I’m very proud of the players, especially. Because they had to deal with all these circumstances. And for many of them, it was the first European experience. For many of them, it was the first experience playing 60 games a season, and they did so well.

Yeah, we had moments where we struggled. We had players at some moments where they were maybe not in the best personal shape. But they always worked hard. They always believed in what we're doing. They always kept going. They always supported each other. They always supported my staff and myself.

And that's why they deserve all the credit. And that makes me really proud.

On lessons from previous finals he’s taken part in…

Every experience helps you for the future. Every experience you make in sports, every experience you make in life can help you. But you have no guarantee for this. And, of course, I'm now always looking back, ‘OK, what did we do at Frankfurt?’

It was a similar situation, but it was Saturday, Wednesday [matches], for example. You know, rotation, not rotation... training at the stadium, training at home and flying afterwards… And what we’re doing on matchday, because nine in the evening is a long day. But we have good experience, what worked in the FA Cup, the same…

And all this helps me, you know, I will tell the players. But then it's also a feeling when I see the players, what do they need? Because not everything that worked at Frankfurt will work at Crystal Palace, so it's always getting a feeling.

What do the players need? Do they look nervous? Or do they look maybe too confident? What does it need? This is a feeling you get in the group.

Right now they look fantastic. Fantastic training. Once I had to get a bit louder. But at this moment, it was a fantastic training session, so really this being focused, but also enjoying. It's always this balance.

And when you play a final, it can be that you want too much. A special performance, doing so well, and this must be perfect, and this must be perfect – and then you're not free, but you need to be free.

There is a reason why we play this final. And it's why we've done many things really well. The players have done many things really well. So, do the things we've done really well.

That's the best way. That's where we have the best chance to win it.

On how he prepares for finals…

Watching hours and hours of video! It's number one. So yesterday, we left at half-eight, my staff and me. Of course, now, we have to use these days, this week, for preparing, because next week, we have no time. We watched, I think, four or five hours of video of Vallecano. Of course, the analysts already watched and know what to do and what suits us and probably what doesn't suit Vallecano.

We changed our schedule a little bit. We had two very intense sessions, yesterday and today. We gave the players off tomorrow, which we normally don't do, but we don't have eight or nine days until the final in a row, so this is a slight adjustment.

And then for me, for Saturday and Sunday, it's just Arsenal. And on Monday, we switch back again and on matchday, this was my experience from my first final: I will go, have a nice breakfast and we will prepare in a good meeting. Players will have a rest and I will go into the gym to be ready in the evening.

On any superstitions…

Always my same clothes, I will wear them!

Of course, that was, for me personally, one of the biggest challenges this year: 60 times wearing the same clothes, always getting them washed within three days and dry!

I'm alone here. That means I had to do it! You know, this is where I had my greatest development, by far!

Match Details

Crystal Palace v Arsenal

Sunday, 24th May
16:00 BST
Premier League
Selhurst Park
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+.

Crystal Palace v Rayo Vallecano

Wednesday, 27th May
20:00 BST UK time / 21:00 CEST local time
Leipzig Stadium, Germany
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+
Visit our Conference League Final Hub

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