Crystal Palace are soaring to new heights, and manager Oliver Glasner has set up what promises to be a perfect finale to a remarkable season. The Eagles are now just one game away from adding a third trophy to their cabinet in just over 12 months—a feat that seemed almost unthinkable not long ago.
It all started with a historic 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final, Palace's first-ever triumph in that competition. That win should have secured them a spot in the Europa League, but UEFA's multi-club ownership rules intervened. An appeal failed, and Nottingham Forest took the Europa League place instead, while Glasner's side were relegated to the third-tier Conference League.
Rather than letting that setback define them, Palace have used it as fuel. They've shown their class throughout the competition, beginning with a tense 1-0 aggregate win over Norwegian side Fredrikstad in the play-offs. Finishing 10th in the league phase, they've battled through to the knockout stages and now stand on the brink of their first-ever European final.
Much of the hard work was done in Krakow last week, but the return leg against a dangerous Shakhtar Donetsk side was no walk in the park. Shakhtar, who are closing in on the Ukrainian Premier League title and a Champions League qualifying spot, were once again outclassed by a disciplined Palace side. The Eagles thoroughly deserved the win and could have added more goals, creating several other golden opportunities.
This run adds to an already astonishing year for Glasner. Having also beaten last season's Premier League champions Liverpool to win the Community Shield in August, the Austrian is already the club's most successful manager in history. But the journey hasn't been smooth.
In January, Glasner announced he would leave at the end of the season when his contract expires. Shortly after, Palace suffered an embarrassing FA Cup third-round exit to sixth-tier Macclesfield. Captain Marc Guehi was sold to Manchester City, and star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta expressed a desire to leave—only a failed medical prevented a move to AC Milan. It's been a turbulent season, both on and off the pitch.
Yet, despite all the chaos, Glasner's final game in charge will now be a European final. Palace fans, who created a superb atmosphere throughout the match, reveled in the occasion, chanting their hearts out. It's a fitting stage for a manager who has turned adversity into triumph, and for a club that continues to prove its quality on the biggest stages.