Glasner: The first step is made
Oliver Glasner hailed Crystal Palace’s performance in defeating Fiorentina 3-0 on Thursday evening – and praised Selhurst Park's role in achieving that – while noting that the UEFA Conference League quarter-final is only at its halfway mark.
Playing their first-ever European quarter-final, Glasner’s Palace thrived off the energy of an electric Selhurst Park, scoring three times without reply – through Jean-Philippe Mateta, Tyrick Mitchell and Ismaïla Sarr – to take command of the occasion.
Fiorentina had their moments and did hit the crossbar in the early stages of the second-half, but Palace were the dominant side in the first leg, as Glasner recognised at full-time.
“More important for me was the performance today,” the Manager said, “especially in the first-half, and let's say the last 20 or 25 minutes.
“It was a really fantastic performance with great power, really playing well, making pressure and always attacking the box, [playing] the ball in behind. I think the second goal was like this with Dani Muñoz, with Daichi [Kamada]’s ball.
“This was the plan. We knew that they are very, very compact, but then also we were really going in behind and creating so many chances. It was really great to see.
“But on the other side, we also have seen, I think for maybe the 15 or 20 minutes after half-time, how good Fiorentina is in this situation, and we needed the crossbar and Dean Henderson once.
"Fiorentina started more aggressive in the second-half. We lost the ball too quickly. But overall, the energy today here at Selhurst, with our fans, from the team, was great. I'm really pleased with what I have seen today.
“The first step is made, but we have to make the second in Florence next week.”
It was a special atmosphere and a special performance
—Oliver Glasner
On the role that Selhurst Park played in the success, Glasner added: "I think the [fixture break] was important for everyone, to be honest. Today it was from the start. It was a different atmosphere here at Selhurst from the team, I said before.
"It's a pleasure for everybody as long as the European journey lasts. And also, of course, Fiorentina is a big name, Italian football has a big name, so everybody expected a very, very tight game today, whereas in the last games it felt like everybody expected a clear win. The circumstances were different, so I think all of this created this special atmosphere today.
"And I think this is the special atmosphere we need. Always, playing in European competitions is always something special, especially when you have it the first time in your club's history – and today I could feel that there was something special.
"It was a special atmosphere and a special performance.
"I hope we will have still many of these nights, not just in Europe. In three days, we play Newcastle here and I think it will be the same. Hopefully it's the same atmosphere.
I'm always enjoying and appreciating my job and being part of such great football games and such great atmospheres. Because, to be honest, that's one of the reasons why I'm a Manager. Again, I hope that we can have more nights and evenings and games like this.
"But it was just the first step. It's not done. It's half-time. We had a good game. We have the lead, but we still have a game to play in Florence, and I expect them to play like they started the second-half, more aggressive and trying to get the turnaround."
We kept our heads up and knew that we could turn the momentum again
—Oliver Glasner
After a dominant first-half display, Palace’s second-half performance was more about reestablishing control amidst Fiorentina’s heavy spell of pressure following the break.
Glasner recognised: “We lost the balls too easily and too quickly, and that always means the game was too wild – so it was up and down.
“Then, when you’re 2-0 up, you should get more control, and I think we had four or five easy ball losses, and that gave the momentum to Fiorentina.
“We also have to respect playing a very good team from Italy, that they would have maybe 15 minutes the momentum on their side.
“But we didn't get frustrated. We kept our heads up and knew that we could turn the momentum again, and so that's what we did.
“At the end, I think we were close to scoring the fourth goal – and it was a great performance.”