Crystal Palace fans in Leipzig, ahead of the UEFA Conference League Final
Crystal Palace fans in Leipzig, ahead of the UEFA Conference League Final
Crystal Palace fans described the UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano as the 'stuff of dreams' and a moment they never thought they would see.
The Eagles clinched an historic FA Cup last year plus a Community Shield but on Wednesday night in Leipzig could add a European trophy if they beat Rayo Vallecano.
Speaking to ITV News London fans said they were proud of what the team had achieved and were ready for the big game.
"Some people don't realise that if we win tonight, and it's a big if, we then qualify for the Europa League as well. So we could get double bubble for the price of one. Two for the price of one," said fan Nick Philpott.
Nick said the atmosphere in Germany 'celebratory' and thousands of supporters were partying together.
Fellow fan Paul Gears said: "It's nice to see Vallecano fans and Palace fans all having pictures and selfies together. It's a real celebration out there and it's the first European final for both teams, so it's a massive deal and everyone's having great fun.
"It's a sea of red and blue out here. It's great to see shirts from all sorts of years. You can see palace fans who have been fans for years all soaking in the moment."
Captain Dean Henderson was instrumental in Palace’s 2025 FA Cup triumph over Manchester City and admitted Wednesday’s European final played on his mind during the final stages of the campaign.
"Naturally, you’re thinking about it," he said.
"Even for the last couple of weeks, you’re probably thinking, ‘let’s try and win the final’. It’s natural. No one speaks about it. No one speaks about it to each other. It’s just about your individual battles, isn’t it?"
Departing Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has told his finalists that the best leaving gift they could give him would be the opportunity to watch them in the Europa League next season.
The Eagles are 90 minutes away from turning Glasner’s dream into a reality, with just Rayo Vallecano standing in the way of more titles under the Austrian manager, who will mark the end of his transformative Crystal Palace tenure when the final whistle blows at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig.
Palace chairman Steve Parish has credited Glasner with taking his club to an unprecedented level.
And Glasner once again challenged the south Londoners not to place any limits on their ambitions.
He said: "Yesterday they had a nice farewell for me, and then I said a few words. I said that for me, the best thing would be, of course, winning tomorrow, but not for winning tomorrow, but because then they plan European football in the Europa League next year.
"They would get next year what we should have gotten this year. Then I said I would like to watch on TV that they would start their Europa League with the desire and the confidence that they can win the Europa League as well.
"This would make me really happy, because then I think we created a mindset at the end that is always successful.
"That doesn’t mean that you win a trophy every single year, but at the end you will always get the best out of every single player and every single team, and that’s why I hope that we win tomorrow, that these players can play Europa League football next season."
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