How Crystal Palace won the Conference League in perfect Oliver Glasner farewell | OneFootball

Austrian leaves Selhurst Park as Eagles’ most successful manager while Jean-Philippe Mateta goes from hero to villain and back again

Crystal Palace delivered the perfect send-off for Oliver Glasner as they beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 to lift the Conference League trophy in Leipzig.

Jean-Philippe Mateta provided the winning goal in the 51st minute to settle a cagey affair and end a tumultuous season on a high.

In their 60th game of an arduous campaign, Palace lifted their first European title as they brought the curtain down on Glasner’s reign in style.

Palace were nervous in the first half, consistently playing themselves into trouble and struggling to break down a stubborn Rayo backline.

Glasner’s side needed a foothold, someone to take control of a game that lacked fluency and rhythm. A cool head to cut the tension.

Palace’s midfield duo of Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada always felt the most capable of providing that vital piece of quality, and, towards the end of the first half, Wharton thought he had delivered the moment to put Palace on course for their third trophy in 12 months.

Inexplicably, Tyrick Mitchell headed wide from the Englishman’s deft cross, but it was a sign of things to come for Palace, and they took the lead soon after the restart.

Redemption: Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the winning goal as Crystal Palace beat Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig

PA

It was again Wharton who was involved, as his shot was parried into the path of Mateta and with that, Palace had the lead and, crucially, the momentum.

If anything epitomises the rollercoaster of emotions Palace fans have been put through this season, it is the way their relationship with Mateta has developed.

From hero to villain and back again, whatever happens this summer, Mateta will be remembered as the man who delivered European glory for Palace.

Booed off the pitch by a portion of supporters in January when it became clear he wanted to leave the club, the Frenchman has well and truly rehabilitated his reputation at Selhurst Park.

“Liquidation - cancelled, FA Cup - landed, Europa League - boarding,” read the Palace tifo in Leipzig. After the anger of their demotion to the Conference League, Palace’s story has come full circle.

They have had to learn to love the Conference League, but as the competition has progressed, their performances have improved. By the end, they lived up to their favourites tag.

Glasner leaves Palace as their most successful manager, having delivered three trophies in the space of 12 months.

But it was not always going to end this way after the Austrian nearly talked himself out of a job at the turn of the year.

It is a credit to him and his players that they have not let that turmoil dictate their season and they can now go their separate ways with nothing but good memories.