Oliver Glasner has urged his Crystal Palace players to continue "tasting the honey" as he stamped out any "melancholic" talk about his departure at the end of the season. Palace are on the brink of reaching the Conference League showpiece after winning the first leg of their semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1, with the return taking place at Selhurst Park on Thursday.
If they secure passage to Leipzig on 27 May, it will be Glasner's final match in charge after he announced he would leave when his contract expires in June. The 51-year-old Austrian is revered at Palace having masterminded last season's FA Cup triumph – the club's first major trophy – before launching 2025-26 by lifting the Community Shield.
That success has made him a more recognisable figure around London, with Glasner revealing that some fans approach him to ask him to stay, but most are seeking a "selfie when I take the tube". Now a first taste of European glory is in Palace's sights and their manager is determined for a new chapter in the Eagles' history to be recorded.
"I made my decision and I have my reasons, but as I've always said, we want to end the season in the best possible way – and now we have the chance to do it," Glasner said. "Now is not the time to get melancholic. It's about staying focused. It's not now celebrating, having a farewell dinner every single night.
"I tell the players very often don't do anything for me, do it for yourselves, do it for the club, do it for the fans, because winning the Conference League means European football again next year at Selhurst.
"The players tasted the honey last year with the FA Cup. This year it's the Conference League and they want honey again. They won't be happy with just avocado, so they want it a bit sweeter.
"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. We know we can write history again. We know that we can give the fans some moments that will stay forever."
Will Hughes has returned from illness in time for the second leg but Evann Guessand and Borna Sosa remain injured and are unavailable for selection. Glasner ruled out Palace approaching the tie as a formality having taken command of the first leg in Krakow, with the prize for victory a meeting with either Strasbourg or Rayo Vallecano in the final.
"Nobody believes this. We could see how good Shakhtar are as a team and also how good their players are. They're quick, good dribblers," Glasner said. "We will need another great performance, but of course we will play the game with a lot of confidence at home. We know we will have fantastic support from our fans. I could feel it against Fiorentina at home and I believe it will be a little bit more electric tomorrow and that's what we need."
